Text of Force-Feeding Legislation
STATE OF NEW YORK
A 6212 and S 3330—A
2005-2006 Regular Sessions

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 agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 353-c to read as follows:

§ 353-c. Force feeding birds. 1. For purposes of this section: (a) “Force feeding” shall mean any process, whether implemented by hand or machine, of feeding birds by intubation for the purpose of enlarging the liver.

(b) “Bird” shall mean and include, but not be limited to, any species of waterfowl such as goose, duck, the cross breed commonly known as the moulard or any genetically-manipulated hybrid raised for the purpose of force feeding.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person to force feed any bird for the purpose of enlarging such bird’s liver beyond its normal size or any other purpose involving commercial sale of the bird.

3. Any person or entity who violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand dollars for a first violation and for any subsequent violation.

§ 2. No civil or criminal cause of action shall arise on or after the effective date of this act under any provision of law against a person or entity for engaging in an act prohibited by section 353-c of the agriculture and markets law, as added by section one of this act, nor shall a pending action commenced prior to the effective date of this act be pursued under any provision of law against a person or entity for engaging, prior to April 15, 2016, in any act prohibited by such section 353-c of the agriculture and markets law. Such limited immunity for liability shall not extend to acts prohibited by such section 353-c of the agriculture and markets law that are committed on or after April 15, 2016.

§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that section one of this act shall take effect April 15, 2016.