
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 7USC1902]

 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
            CHAPTER 48--HUMANE METHODS OF LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER
 
Sec. 1902. Humane methods

    No method of slaughtering or handling in connection with 
slaughtering shall be deemed to comply with the public policy of the 
United States unless it is humane. Either of the following two methods 
of slaughtering and handling are hereby found to be humane:
        (a) in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, 
    and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by 
    a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means 
    that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, 
    cast, or cut; or
        (b) by slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements 
    of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith that prescribes a 
    method of slaughter whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness 
    by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous 
    severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument and 
    handling in connection with such slaughtering.

(Pub. L. 85-765, Sec. 2, Aug. 27, 1958, 72 Stat. 862; Pub. L. 95-445, 
Sec. 5(a), Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 1069.)


                               Amendments

    1978--Par. (b). Pub. L. 95-445 inserted ``and handling in connection 
with such slaughtering'' at end.


                    Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 95-445 effective one year after Oct. 10, 1978, 
and nonapplicability during not to exceed additional 18 months in 
hardship cases, see sec. 7 of Pub. L. 95-445 set out as a note under 
section 603 of Title 21, Food and Drugs.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 1906 of this title.
