7 U.S.C. § 1901
Findings and declaration of policy
The Congress finds that the use of humane methods in the slaughter of livestock prevents needless suffering; results in safer and better working conditions for persons engaged in the slaughtering industry; brings about improvement of products and economies in slaughtering operations; and produces other benefits for producers, processors, and consumers which tend to expedite an orderly flow of livestock and livestock products in interstate and foreign commerce. It is therefore declared to be the policy of the United States that the slaughtering of livestock and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter shall be carried out only by humane methods.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1974–2025 · leading case: United States v. Stevens, 533 F.3d 218 (3rd Cir. 2008).
United States v. Stevens, 533 F.3d 218 (3rd Cir. 2008). “§ 2156 ; require that livestock be slaughtered humanely, 7 U.S.C. § 1901 ; help establish humane guidelines governing the purchase, sale, and handling of animals, 7 U.”
Levine v. Vilsack, 587 F.3d 986 (9th Cir. 2009). “” 7 U.S.C. § 1901 . It also authorized and directed the Secretary to designate “humane” methods of slaughter conforming “to the policy stated in this chapter” for “each species of livestock.”
Nat'l Meat Assn. v. Harris, 132 S. Ct. 965 (2012). “862 , 7 U. S. C. § 1901 et seq., which originally applied only to slaughterhouses selling meat to the Federal Government.”
Levine v. Conner, 540 F. Supp. 2d 1113 (N.D. Cal. 2008). “On November 21, 2005 plaintiffs filed the instant case against the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) challenging the USDA’s interpretive rule excluding chickens, turkeys and other poultry species from the Humane Methods Slaughter Act (“HMSA”) of 1958, 7 U.S.C. §§…”
Jones v. Butz, 374 F. Supp. 1284 (S.D.N.Y. 1974). “This action involves a challenge, under the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment, 1 to the Humane Slaughter Act (the Act), 7 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq. (1970), 2 and in particular to the provisions relating to ritual slaughter as defined in the Act and *1286…”
Fabrizius v. United States Dep't of Agric., 129 F.4th 1226 (10th Cir. 2025). “” 7 U.S.C. § 1901 note 4 Appellate Case: 23-9570 Document: 75-1 Date Filed: 02/24/2025 Page: 5 (Commercial Transportation of Equine for Slaughter) (quoting Pub.”
Earth Island Inst. v. Christopher, 890 F. Supp. 1085 (Ct. Intl. Trade 1995). “2d 36 (1974), a case challenging the act of August 27, 1958 to establish federal policy as to the use of humane methods of slaughter of livestock, 7 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq., the courts sustained the standing of the plaintiffs, apparently including that of the first named as “the…”
Humane Soc'y of Rochester & Monroe Cnty. v. Lyng, 633 F. Supp. 480 (W.D.N.Y. 1986). “(governing transport of livestock by rail), the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, 7 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq., and the Animal Welfare Act, 7 U.”
Commack Self-Serv. Kosher Meats, Inc. v. Rubin, 106 F. Supp. 2d 445 (E.D.N.Y 2000). “Jones involved a challenge by animal rights activists who were concerned that exempting slaughter “in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith” from the Humane Slaughter Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1901 et seq. (1970), would lead to animal…”
Am. Horse Prot. Ass'n v. United States Dep't of Interior, 551 F.2d 432 (D.C. Cir. 1977). “862 , 7 U.S.C. §§ 1901 et seq. (1970); the Act of Aug.”
Animal Welfare Inst. v. Perdue (W.D.N.Y. 2022). “862 , 7 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq., which established that it is “the policy of the United States that the slaughtering of livestock and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter shall be carried out only by humane methods.”
Curtis v. State of Nevada (D. Nev. 2024). “49 11 High Desert responds that Asatru only requires its followers to eat livestock that has been 12 humanely slaughtered “irrespective of the method.”
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