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History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Full text
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S898
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to making it unlawful to force feed birds under certain circumstances
Purpose or general idea of bill
This will prevent the force feeding of birds in the process of producing "foie gras".
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends Section 353 of the agriculture and markets law as amended by chapter 523 of the laws of 2005, by adding the force feeding of a bird, by hand or machine, for the purpose to fatty enlargement of such bird's liver, to the list of acts which constitute cruelty to an animal which is a class A misdemeanor.
Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.
Justification
The unusual practice of force feeding animals for nonmedical reasons is the sole method employed in the production of pate de foie gras. Foie gras (fatty liver), a gourmet delicacy, is the enlarged liver of a duck or goose. To obtain this product, the animals are force fed three times daily by means of a long pipe which is inserted into the esophagus of the animal. Compressed air is forced through the pipe to ensure the animal is fed an excessive amount. This leads to the swelling of the animal's liver, causing it to expand up to eight to twelve times its normal size. Often this force feeding of the animal causes the rupture of the animal's internal organs leading to infection and subsequently the animal's death. The daily force feeding regimen lasts approximately three to four weeks until the animal is slaughtered.
Presently, many European countries prohibit foie gras production. This legislation, if passed would prohibit this cruel practice and prevent further abuse to animals in New York State.
In addition, the United States Humane Society filed suit against the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to prohibit the production and sale of foie gras as an adulterated food product.
Prior legislative history
2011-12: S.3867 2007-08: S.1463 (Padavan)/A.6277 (Benjamin) 2005-06: S.2083 (Padavan)/A.7876 (Benjamin) 2003-04: S.5153 (Padavan)/A.1821A (McEneny)
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.