RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- FORCE-FED POULTRY PRODUCTS
H7718 would create a new chapter in Rhode Island’s food and drugs laws regulating “force-fed poultry products,” a category that includes products such as foie gras made from birds force-fed to enlarge their livers. The bill states a legislative intent to protect public health and general welfare by addressing practices it describes as inhumane, environmentally unsustainable, and associated with zoonotic disease risk.
The bill makes it unlawful to force-feed birds for the purpose of creating a force-fed poultry product, or to hire another person to do so. It also prohibits the sale in Rhode Island of any force-fed poultry product or any food containing such a product, including sales made directly, by phone, electronically, or over the internet. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that any item labeled or listed as “foie gras” is a force-fed poultry product unless documentary evidence shows otherwise.
Enforcement would be through civil penalties of $500 per violation, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense. Violations could be prosecuted by the municipality where the violation occurs or by the state Department of Health, and peace officers or animal control/regulation officers could issue citations. The act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
The bill’s impact would be to add a new consumer and animal-welfare restriction to Rhode Island law, affecting producers, distributors, restaurants, retailers, and online sellers of foie gras and similar products. It would also give local governments and the Department of Health an enforcement role and establish a specific penalty structure for noncompliance.
There is no recorded committee testimony or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal support or opposition is documented here. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a public-health and animal-welfare initiative, while likely raising concerns for affected food businesses and those who view it as a restriction on lawful food sales or agricultural practices.
This bill would amend Title 21 of the Rhode Island General Laws by adding a new chapter prohibiting force-feeding birds to create force-fed poultry products and banning the sale of those products or foods containing them. It would create a rebuttable presumption that products labeled or menu-listed as foie gras are covered, shifting the burden to sellers to prove otherwise. The bill also authorizes civil enforcement by municipalities and the Department of Health, with $500 penalties per violation and potential citations by peace officers and animal control/regulation officers.
No committee transcripts or vote records were provided, so there is no documented legislative debate or recorded sentiment to summarize. The bill’s stated purpose reflects a strong pro-regulation, animal-welfare, and public-health rationale, suggesting likely support from animal protection and public health advocates. At the same time, the measure would likely be viewed negatively by restaurants, specialty food sellers, and others in the foie gras supply chain who could be affected by the sales ban and enforcement provisions.
The main points of contention are likely to be whether Rhode Island should prohibit a specific food-production method and ban the sale of a particular luxury food product, and whether the state should treat foie gras as presumptively illegal unless sellers prove otherwise. Supporters would emphasize animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and disease concerns, while opponents may argue the bill is overbroad, burdensome to businesses, and intrusive into lawful commerce and menu offerings. The enforcement mechanism and the ability of local governments and the Department of Health to prosecute violations may also be disputed.