AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- FORCE-FED POULTRY PRODUCTS (Prohibits force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product or the hiring of another to engage in force-feeding of a poultry product. It also prohibits the sale of a force-fed poultry product or food containing a force-fed poultry product.)

S2353

2026 -- S 2353
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LC004249
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- FORCE-FED POULTRY PRODUCTS

Introduced By:
Senators Gu, Burke, Murray, DiMario, Zurier, Britto, Paolino, Bell, and
Valverde

Date Introduced:
January 30, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Environment & Agriculture
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Title 21 of the General Laws entitled "FOOD AND DRUGS" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:
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CHAPTER 13.1
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FORCE-FED POULTRY PRODUCTS
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21-13.1-1. Legislative intent.

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The general assembly recognizes it is in the public interest to protect the public health and
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general welfare of the State of Rhode Island by regulating industries, such as foie gras, that are
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inhumane, environmentally unsustainable, and increase the risk of zoonotic diseases.
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21-13.1-2. Definitions.

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For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
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(1) “Force-fed poultry product” means any product that is the result of force-feeding a bird,
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including, but not limited to, a duck or a goose, with the intent to fatten or enlarge the bird's liver.
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(2) “Force-feeding” means the practice of forcing, by any means, food or supplements into
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the throat, esophagus, crop or stomach of an animal.
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(3) “Sell” means any act of selling, trading, or bartering for monetary or nonmonetary
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consideration, and includes any transfer of ownership that occurs in the course of a commercial
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transaction.
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21-13.1-3. Prohibited conduct.

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(a) A person shall not engage in force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product nor hire

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another to engage in force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product.
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(b) A person shall not sell in Rhode Island by any means, including, but not limited to,
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direct, telephone, electronic or Internet sales, any force-fed poultry product or food containing a
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force-fed poultry product. For purposes of this chapter, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that
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an item that is in any way identified or labeled as "foie gras", or listed on a menu as "foie gras", is
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a force-fed poultry product. Any party seeking to rebut such presumption shall provide
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documentary evidence proving that the product they are storing, keeping, maintaining, offering for
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sale, or selling is not a force-fed poultry product as defined in this chapter.
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21-13.1-4. Enforcement.

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(a) Any person who is found to violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to a
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civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation. Each such violation may be treated
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as a separate and distinct offense, and in the case of a continuing violation, each day's continuance
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thereof may be treated as a separate and distinct offense.
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(b) Any person who violates any provision of this chapter may be prosecuted by the city
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or town where the violation occurs, or by the state department of health, and the municipality or
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department of health, after deducting the costs of trial and conviction, may retain the balance of the
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fine or fines recovered for the use of the municipality or department.
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(c) A peace officer, officer of an animal control or animal regulation department of a public
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agency, may issue a citation to a person who violates this chapter.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- FORCE-FED POULTRY PRODUCTS
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This act would prohibit force-feeding to create a force-fed poultry product or the hiring of
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another to engage in force-feeding of a poultry product. The act would prohibit the sale of a force-
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fed poultry product or food containing a force-fed poultry product. Any violations would be subject
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to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) per violation.
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This act would take effect on January 1, 2027.
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