Title 21 — Food and Drugs
Chapter 12 — Meat Inspection
§ 603. Examination of animals prior to slaughter; use of humane methods
Statutory text
Examination of animals before slaughtering; diseased animals slaughtered separately and carcasses examined
For the purpose of preventing the use in commerce of meat and meat food products which are adulterated, the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and inspection of all amenable species before they shall be allowed to enter into any slaughtering, packing, meat-canning, rendering, or similar establishment, in which they are to be slaughtered and the meat and meat food products thereof are to be used in commerce; and all amenable species found on such inspection to show symptoms of disease shall be set apart and slaughtered separately from all other cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines, and when so slaughtered the carcasses of said cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines shall be subject to a careful examination and inspection, all as provided by the rules and regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary, as provided for in this subchapter.
Humane methods of slaughter
For the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of livestock, the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and inspection of the method by which amenable species are slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in the slaughtering establishments inspected under this chapter. The Secretary may refuse to provide inspection to a new slaughtering establishment or may cause inspection to be temporarily suspended at a slaughtering establishment if the Secretary finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines have been slaughtered or handled in connection with slaughter at such establishment by any method not in accordance with the Act of (72 Stat. 862; 7 U.S.C. 1901–1906) until the establishment furnishes assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that all slaughtering and handling in connection with slaughter of livestock shall be in accordance with such a method.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 59–2907 · 34 Stat. 1256
Enacted · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, § 3, formerly 1st par., 34 Stat. 1260
Source evidence
Code source credit
Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, § 3, formerly 1st par., 34 Stat. 1260Pub. L. 90–201 · 81 Stat. 584
Struck · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 3, 12(a), (b), struck out “interstate or foreign” before “commerce” in two places
Substituted · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 3, 12(a), (b), substituted “Secretary shall” for “Secretary, at his discretion, may”
Struck · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 3, 12(a), (b), struck out “of Agriculture” after “Secretary”, included horses, mules, and other equines, and horses, mules, or other equines in the list of animals
Substituted · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 3, 12(a), (b), substituted “adulterated” for “unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food”, respectively
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 3, 12(a), (b), struck out “interstate or foreign” before “commerce” in two places, substituted “Secretary shall” for “Secretary, at his discretion, may”, and struck out “of Agriculture” after “Secretary”, included horses, mules, and other equines, and horses, mules, or other equines in the list of animals, and substituted “adulterated” for “unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food”, respectively.Pub. L. 95–445 § 2 · 92 Stat. 1069
Amended · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Pub. L. 95–445 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a)
Added · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Pub. L. 95–445 added subsec. (b)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 95–445 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 2. Section 3 of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 603) is amended by inserting “(a)” immediately before the first sentence and adding at the end thereof a new subsection (b) as follows: “(b) For the purpose of preventing the inhumane slaughtering of livestock, the Secretary shall cause to be made, by inspectors appointed for that purpose, an examination and inspection of the method by which cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines are slaughtered and handled in connection with slaughter in the slaughtering establishments inspected under this Act. The Secretary may refuse to provide inspection to a new slaughtering establishment or may cause inspection to be temporarily suspended at a slaughtering establishment if the Secretary finds that any cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, or other equines have been slaughtered or handled in connection with slaughter at such establishment by any method not in accordance with the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 862; 7 U.S.C. 1901–1906) until the establishment furnishes assurances satisfactory to the Secretary that all slaughtering and handling in connection with slaughter of livestock shall be in accordance with such a method.”.Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006
Pub. L. 109–97 title VII § 798 · 119 Stat. 2120
Substituted · 21 U.S.C. § 603
Pub. L. 109–97 substituted “amenable species” for “cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines” wherever appearing
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Pub. L. 109–97 substituted “amenable species” for “cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines” wherever appearing.Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 798. Amenable Species.— The Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is amended— (1) 21 USC 603–605, 608, 609, 615, 617, 618, 620, 621. 21 USC 601. by striking “cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines” each place it appears and inserting “amenable species”; (2) in section 1, by adding at the end the following new subsection: “(w) The term ‘amenable species’ means— “(1) those species subject to the provisions of this Act on the day before the date of the enactment of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006; and “(2) any additional species of livestock that the Secretary considers appropriate.” ; and (3) in section 21 USC 619. 19— (A) by striking “horses, mules, or other equines” and inserting “species designated by regulations in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006”; and (B) by striking “cattle, sheep, swine, or goats” and inserting “other amenable species”. (b) Effective Date.— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the day after the effective date of section 794 of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006.Effective date note
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–97 effective the day after 120 days after Nov. 10, 2005, see section 798(b) of Pub. L. 109–97, set out as a note under section 601 of this title.
3 of 8 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 5 partial
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Act of , referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 85–765, , 72 Stat. 862, which is classified generally to chapter 48 (§ 1901 et seq.) of Title 7, Agriculture. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Sections 1903 and 1905 of Title 7, included within reference to Act of , were repealed by Pub. L. 95–445, § 5(b), , 92 Stat. 1069, effective as set forth in section 7 of Pub. L. 95–445, set out as an Effective Date of 1978 Amendment note below.
Codification
Section was formerly classified to section 71 of this title.
Amendments1967–2005 · 3 rounds
2005
Pub. L. 109–97 substituted “amenable species” for “cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines” wherever appearing.
1978
Pub. L. 95–445 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).
1967
Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 3, 12(a), (b), struck out “interstate or foreign” before “commerce” in two places, substituted “Secretary shall” for “Secretary, at his discretion, may”, and struck out “of Agriculture” after “Secretary”, included horses, mules, and other equines, and horses, mules, or other equines in the list of animals, and substituted “adulterated” for “unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or otherwise unfit for human food”, respectively.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 109–97 effective the day after 120 days after , see section 798(b) of Pub. L. 109–97, set out as a note under section 601 of this title.
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Pub. L. 95–445, § 7, , 92 Stat. 1070, provided that: “The provisions of this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 601 of this title] shall become effective one year after the date of enactment []. However, such provisions shall not apply to a person, firm, or corporation for such additional period of time, not to exceed eighteen months, as may be determined by the Secretary, if the Secretary, upon application, finds that compliance with the provisions of this Act on its effective date would cause undue hardship on such person, firm, or corporation.”
Effective Date of 1967 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 90–201 effective , except that with respect to equines (other than horses) and their carcasses and parts thereof, meat, and meat food products thereof, amendment effective upon expiration of sixty days after , see section 20(b) of Pub. L. 90–201, set out as an Effective Date note under section 601 of this title.
Religious Freedom; Ritual Slaughter
Pub. L. 95–445, § 6, , 92 Stat. 1070, provided that: “Nothing in this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 601 of this title] 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 Act, in order to protect freedom of religion, ritual slaughter and the handling or other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are exempted from the terms of this Act. For the purposes of this section the term ‘ritual slaughter’ means slaughter in accordance with section 2(b) of the Act of August 27, 1958 (72 Stat. 862; 7 U.S.C. 1902(b)).”
Credits
1907–2005 · 4 acts
- 1907Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, § 3, formerly 1st par., 34 Stat. 1260
- 1967renumbered § 3 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 1, 3, 12(a), (b), , 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592
- 1978Pub. L. 95–445, § 2, , 92 Stat. 1069
- 2005Pub. L. 109–97, title VII, § 798[(a)](1), , 119 Stat. 2166.
Show as published
(Mar. 4, 1907, ch. 2907, title I, § 3, formerly 1st par., 34 Stat. 1260; renumbered § 3 and amended Pub. L. 90–201, §§ 1, 3, 12(a), (b), , 81 Stat. 584, 588, 592; Pub. L. 95–445, § 2, , 92 Stat. 1069; Pub. L. 109–97, title VII, § 798[(a)](1), , 119 Stat. 2166.)