What's happening
This bill makes it illegal to force feed birds for the purpose of enlarging their livers in New York.
Why it matters
Targets the production of foie gras. by specifically outlawing the method (force feeding birds to enlarge their livers), which is central to making this luxury food product, potentially impacting restaurants, farms, and food suppliers.
Elevates animal welfare standards. by explicitly adding force feeding for liver enlargement to the list of acts considered animal cruelty, signaling a broader commitment to preventing practices deemed inhumane.
Classifies violations as a class A misdemeanor. , meaning individuals or businesses caught force feeding birds for this purpose could face criminal charges, fines, and possible jail time, increasing the legal risks associated with the practice.
May influence agricultural practices and consumer awareness. , encouraging shifts toward alternative farming methods or products, and potentially raising public debate on ethical food sourcing and animal rights.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Force-Feeding Birds
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to agriculture
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Force-Feeding Birds
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor Brian F. Curran
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1559
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Agriculture
AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to making it unlawful to force feed birds under certain circumstances
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 353 of the agriculture and markets law, as amended by chapter 523 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
A person who overdrives, overloads, tortures or cruelly beats or unjustifiably injures, maims, mutilates or kills any animal, whether wild or tame, and whether belonging to himself, herself or to another, or deprives any animal of necessary sustenance, food or drink, or force feeds a bird, by hand or machine, for the purpose of fatty enlargement of such bird's liver, or neglects or refuses to furnish it such sustenance or drink, or causes, procures or permits any animal to be overdriven, overloaded, tortured, cruelly beaten, or unjustifiably injured, maimed, mutilated or killed, or to be deprived of necessary food or drink, or who wilfully sets on foot, instigates, engages in, or in any way furthers any act of cruelty to any animal, or any act tending to produce such cruelty, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor and for purposes of paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 160.10 of the criminal procedure law, shall be treated as a misdemeanor defined in the penal law.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00621-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
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
2015-16: S.898 2013-14: S.456 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 next 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.