SLS 10RS-493 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
SENATE BILL NO. 149
BY SENATOR THOMPSON
AGRICULTURE/FOREST DEPT. Requires the Department of Agriculture to conduct
inspections of slaughtering establishments to ensure compliance with the "Federal Humane
Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act." (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 3:4201(12) and 4203 and to enact R.S. 3:4201(22), relative to2
slaughtering livestock; to provide for the definition of the "Federal Humane Methods3
of Livestock Slaughter Act"; to provide relative to humane methods of slaughter; to4
require inspections of slaughtering establishments; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 3:4201(12) and 4203 are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.7
3:4201(22) is hereby enacted to read as follows: 8
§4201. Definitions 9
As used in this Chapter, except as otherwise specified, the following terms10
shall have the meanings stated below: 11
* * *12
(12) The term "Federal Meat Inspection Act" means the act so entitled13
approved March 4, 1907, as amended by the Wholesome Meat Act (21 U.S.C. 71 et14
seq.), and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto. 15
* * *16
(22) The term "Federal Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of17 SB NO. 149
SLS 10RS-493 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
1978" means the act so entitled, approved October 10, 1978 (7 U.S.C. 1901 et1
seq.), and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.2
* * *3
§4203. Antemortem inspection and humane methods of slaughter4
A. For the purpose of preventing the use in intrastate commerce, as5
hereinafter provided, of meat and meat food products which are adulterated, the6
commissioner shall cause to be made, by inspector inspectors appointed for that7
purpose, an antemortem inspection of all cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses,8
mules and other equines before they shall be allowed to enter into any slaughtering,9
packing, meat-canning, rendering or similar establishment, in this state in which10
slaughtering and preparation of meat and meat food products of such animals are11
conducted solely for intrastate commerce, and all cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats,12
horses, mules and other equines found on such inspection to show symptoms of13
disease shall be condemned if the diseased condition warrants such action, or shall14
be set apart and slaughtered separately from all other cattle, sheep, poultry, swine,15
horses, mules or other equines, and when so slaughtered, the carcasses of said cattle,16
sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines shall be subject to a17
careful examination, all as provided by the rules and regulations to be prescribed by18
the commissioner as herein provided for.19
B. For the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of livestock,20
the commissioner shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that21
purpose, an examination and inspection of the method by which cattle, sheep,22
swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines are slaughtered and handled in23
connection with slaughter in the slaughtering establishments inspected in this24
state. The commissioner may refuse to provide inspection to a new slaughtering25
establishment or may temporarily suspend inspection at a slaughtering26
establishment if the commissioner finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats,27
horses, mules, or other equines have been slaughtered or handled in connection28
with slaughter by any method not in accordance with the Federal Humane29 SB NO. 149
SLS 10RS-493 ORIGINAL
Page 3 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act (7 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.). The refusal to1
inspect or suspension shall continue until the establishment furnishes2
assurances satisfactory to the commissioner that all slaughtering and handling3
in connection with slaughter of livestock is in accordance with such method.4
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not5
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature6
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If7
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become8
effective on the day following such approval.9
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Curry Johnson.
DIGEST
Proposed law clarifies that references to the "Federal Meat Inspection Act" include any
amendments to the act.
Proposed law provides that the "Federal Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of
1978" means the act so entitled, approved October 10, 1978 (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), and any
amendments to the act.
Proposed law requires the commissioner to appoint inspectors to examine and inspect the
method by which cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines are slaughtered
and handled in the slaughtering establishments inspected in this state.
Proposed law authorizes the commissioner to refuse inspection to a new slaughtering
establishment or temporarily suspend inspection at a slaughtering establishment if the
commissioner finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines have
been slaughtered or handled in connection with slaughter by any method not in accordance
with the "Federal Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act."
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 3:4201(12) and 4203; Adds R.S. 3:4201(22))