The legislature of the state of Washington 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 economy in slaughtering operations; and produces other benefits for producers, processors and consumers which tend to expedite the orderly flow of livestock and their products. It is therefore declared to be the policy of the state of Washington to require that the slaughter of all livestock, and the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter, shall be carried out only by humane methods and to provide that methods of slaughter shall conform generally to those authorized by the Federal Humane Slaughter Act of 1958, and regulations thereunder.
[ 1967 c 31 § 1; ]
For the purpose of this chapter:
"Department" means the department of agriculture of the state of Washington.
"Director" means the director of the department or his or her duly appointed representative.
"Humane method" means either: (a) A method whereby 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 the ritual requirements of any religious faith whereby 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.
"Livestock" means cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, and goats.
"Packer" means any person engaged in the business of slaughtering livestock.
"Person" means a natural person, individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, society, and association and every officer, agent, or employee, thereof. This term shall import either the singular or plural, as the case may be.
"Slaughterer" means any person engaged in the commercial or custom slaughtering of livestock, including custom farm slaughterers.
[ 2011 c 336 § 421; 1967 c 31 § 2; ]
No slaughterer or packer shall bleed or slaughter any livestock except by a humane method: PROVIDED, That the director may, by administrative order, exempt a person from compliance with this chapter for a period of not to exceed six months if he or she finds that an earlier compliance would cause such person undue hardship.
[ 2011 c 336 § 422; 1967 c 31 § 3; ]
The director shall administer the provisions of this chapter. The director shall adopt and may from time to time revise rules which shall conform substantially to the rules and regulations promulgated by the secretary of agriculture of the United States pursuant to the : (1) Federal meat inspection act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.; (2) poultry products inspection act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 451 et seq.; and (3) humane slaughter act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq., and any amendments thereto. Such rules shall be adopted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 34.05 RCW as enacted or hereafter amended concerning the adoption of rules.
The use of a manually operated hammer, sledge or poleaxe is declared to be an inhumane method of slaughter within the meaning of this chapter.
[ 1967 c 31 § 5; ]
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit, abridge, or in any way hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, ritual slaughter and the handling or other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter is defined as humane.
[ 1967 c 31 § 10; ]
The director may bring an action to enjoin the violation or threatened violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter in the superior court in the county in which such violation occurs or is about to occur, notwithstanding the existence of the other remedies at law.
[ 1967 c 31 § 6; ]
Any person violating any provision of this chapter or of any rule adopted hereunder is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars or confinement in the county jail for not more than ninety days.
[ 1967 c 31 § 7; ]
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It is the purpose of this section to provide a meat and poultry inspection program in the state at least equal to the programs imposed under the: (i) Federal meat inspection act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.; (ii) poultry products inspection act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 451 et seq.; and (iii) humane slaughter act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.
The director may administer and enforce this section to accomplish the purpose described in (a) of this subsection only if the department has full federal approval for the program.
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The department may enter into a cooperative agreement with the United States department of agriculture in order to operate a meat and poultry inspection program that is at least equal to requirements imposed under the federal meat inspection act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq., the poultry products inspection act, 21 U.S.C. Sec. 451 et seq., and the humane slaughter act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.
The department may enter into a cooperative interstate shipping program agreement with the United States department of agriculture in order to allow establishments licensed under this program under specific criteria to ship products in interstate commerce.
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The director may adopt rules to establish a meat and poultry inspection program and an interstate shipping program.
The director may license establishments operating under either program of state inspection and may establish license requirements and license fee schedules for establishments operating under either program of state inspection.
Under the meat and poultry inspection program adopted pursuant to the cooperative agreement, the department shall:
Require antemortem and postmortem inspections, quarantine, segregation, and reinspections by inspectors appointed for those purposes with respect to the slaughter of animals and the preparation of meat and poultry products at establishments licensed under this program;
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Require that animals be identified for inspection purposes and meat or poultry products, or their containers, be marked or labeled as: (A) "Washington inspected and passed" if, upon inspection, the products are found to be unadulterated; and (B) "Washington inspected and condemned" if, upon inspection, the products are found to be adulterated.
Condemned animal carcasses or products, which otherwise would be used for human consumption, must be destroyed under the supervision of an inspector;
Prohibit or limit meat products, poultry products, or other materials not prepared under inspection procedures adopted by rule, from being brought into establishments licensed under this program;
Require that labels and containers for meat and poultry products bear all information required by rules adopted by the department if the product leaves the official establishment and be approved before sale or transportation;
Require inspections that prescribe sanitary standards and refuse to provide inspection service if the sanitary conditions allow adulteration of any meat or poultry product; and
Require that any person operating an establishment licensed under this program keep accurate records disclosing all pertinent business transactions, allow inspection of the business premises at reasonable times and examination of inventory, records, and facilities, and allow samples to be taken.
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To prevent the inhumane slaughtering of animals, inspectors must be appointed to examine and inspect methods of handling and slaughtering animals.
Inspection of slaughtering establishments may be refused or temporarily suspended if animals have been slaughtered or handled by any method not in accordance with the humane methods of slaughter act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.
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The department shall require an animal showing symptoms of disease during antemortem inspection, performed by an inspector appointed for that purpose, to be set apart and slaughtered separately from other livestock and poultry.
When slaughtered, the carcasses of livestock and poultry are subject to careful examination and inspection in accordance with rules adopted by the director.
[ 2021 c XXX § 1; ]**