The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 6: Agriculture

Chapter 201: Humane Slaughter of Livestock

• § 3131. Definitions

  As used in this chapter:

  (1) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets.

  (2) “Slaughterer” means any person regularly engaged in the commercial slaughtering of livestock.

  (3) “Livestock” means cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, fallow deer, American bison, and any other animal that can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products.

  (4) “Packer” means any person engaged in the business of slaughtering, manufacturing, or preparing meat or meat products for sale.

  (5) “Stockyard” means any place, establishment, or facility conducted or operated for compensation or profit as a public market, consisting of pens, or other enclosures, and their appurtenances, for the handling, keeping, and holding of livestock for sale or shipment.

  (6) “Humane method” means either:

  (A) a method by which the animal is rendered insensible to pain by mechanical, electrical, chemical, or other means that is rapid and effective before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or

  (B) a method in accordance with ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith under which the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument. (Added 1967, No. 297 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 20, 1968; amended 1987, No. 276 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 131, eff. July 1, 2022; 2023, No. 6, § 62, eff. July 1, 2023.)

• § 3132. Prohibition

  No slaughterer, packer, or stockyard operator may bleed or slaughter livestock except by a humane method. The use of a manually operated hammer, sledge, poleax, or similar instrument is not a humane method within the meaning of this chapter. (Added 1967, No. 297 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. March 20, 1968.)

• § 3133. Administration; rules

  The Secretary shall administer this chapter and shall adopt and from time to time revise rules to affect its purpose. The rules shall conform substantially with those promulgated by the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States under the federal Humane Slaughter Act of 1958, Pub. L. No. 85-765, 72 Stat. 862, as from time to time amended, but may be modified to meet local conditions. (Added 1967, No. 297 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 20, 1968, amended 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; amended 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 132, eff. July 1, 2022.)

• § 3134. Penalty

  A person who violates section 3132 of this title shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined upon conviction not more than $1,000.00 for the first violation, not more than $5,000.00 for the second violation, and not more than $10,000.00 per violation for the third and any subsequent violations, or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. In addition to the penalties provided in this section, the Secretary may seek an injunction against a slaughterer, packer, or stockyard operator who engages in practices that are prohibited by section 3132 of this title, by application to the Superior Court for the county in which such slaughterer, packer, or stockyard operator resides, or where such violations occur. The Secretary may refer a violation of section 3132 of this title to the Attorney General or the State’s Attorney for criminal prosecution. The Secretary may also take any action authorized under chapter 1 of this title. (Added 1967, No. 297 (Adj. Sess.), § 5, eff. March 20, 1968; amended 2003, No. 42, § 2, eff. May 27, 2003; 2009, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 9, eff. June 3, 2010.)