Sec. 22-272a. Approved methods of slaughter.
Sec. 22-272a. Approved methods of slaughter. (a) No person engaged in business as a slaughterer, packer or stockyard operator shall cause or permit any cattle,
calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats or other animals to be slaughtered or put into
position for slaughter unless such animals are rendered insensible to pain or are restrained by an approved method. For the purpose of this section, a person shall be deemed
to be engaged in business who slaughters any such animal for sale or trade.
(b) The following shall be deemed to be approved methods: (1) Rendering the animal insensible to pain by gunshot or mechanical, electrical, chemical or other rapid
and effective means approved by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection or by the
Secretary of Agriculture of the United States pursuant to the federal Humane Slaughter
Act of 1958 (An Act of Congress approved August 27, 1958, Public Law 85-765, 72
Stat. 862, 7 USC 1901-1906), as amended; (2) restraint of the animal by means of a pen
approved by the commissioner which firmly encloses the animal and, with a minimum
of excitement and discomfort, places the animal in such a position that a cutting stroke
may be administered quickly and efficiently; (3) restraint of the animal by means of a
body harness approved by the commissioner which lifts, supports and cradles the animal
and, with a minimum of excitement and discomfort, places it in such a position that a
cutting stroke may be administered quickly and efficiently, and (4) restraint of the animal
by any other means approved by the commissioner which causes the animal no unreasonable or unnecessary pain and which, with a minimum of excitement and discomfort,
places the animal in such a position that a cutting stroke may be administered quickly
and efficiently.
(c) Use of a manually-operated sledge, hammer or poleax to render an animal insensible to pain is prohibited.
(d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be fined not more
than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than ninety days or both. The commissioner, or any meat inspector acting under his direction, may seize any animal slaughtered in violation of the provisions of this section and the commissioner may, at his
discretion, sell or otherwise dispose of the same. The proceeds from any such sale shall
be paid to the State Treasurer to be credited to the General Fund.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit, abridge or in any way
hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in order to protect freedom of religion and ritual slaughter, the
handling and other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are humane and are not
to be regulated by any terms of this section.
(1961, P.A. 365, S. 1, 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)
History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Consumer Protection with Commissioner of Agriculture
and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby
reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.
Cited. 218 C. 757.