Bill > H966

This bill proposes several amendments to Chapter 94 of the Massachusetts General Laws to address bird treatment, specifically focusing on defining terms and prohibiting certain practices related to force-feeding birds. The bill first defines a "bird" as any winged vertebrate like a duck or goose, and introduces a precise definition of "force feeding" as a process that compels a bird to consume more food than it would naturally eat, such as by using a tube inserted into the bird's esophagus. It also updates the definition of "poultry" to include any domesticated bird, whether alive or dead. The key substantive provision makes it illegal to force-feed a bird for the purpose of enlarging its liver beyond its normal size, both for the person performing the act and for anyone hiring someone else to do so. Additionally, the bill prohibits the sale of products resulting from such force-feeding practices. These changes appear targeted at preventing practices associated with foie gras production, where birds are force-fed to create a fatty liver, by establishing clear legal definitions and creating specific prohibitions against the practice.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H966