Us Code § 2160 - Prohibition on slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 2160 — Prohibition on slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 2160. Prohibition on slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption

(a) In general

Except as provided in subsection (c), no person may—

(1) knowingly slaughter a dog or cat for human consumption; or

(2) knowingly ship, transport, move, deliver, receive, possess, purchase, sell, or donate—

(A) a dog or cat to be slaughtered for human consumption; or

(B) a dog or cat part for human consumption.

(b) Scope

Subsection (a) shall apply only with respect to conduct—

(1) in or affecting interstate commerce or foreign commerce; or

(2) within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

(c) Exception for Indian tribes

The prohibition in subsection (a) shall not apply to an Indian (as defined in section 5304 of title 25) carrying out any activity described in subsection (a) for the purpose of a religious ceremony.

(d) Penalty

Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be subject to a fine in an amount not greater than $5,000 for each violation.

(e) Effect on State law

Nothing in this section—

(1) limits any State or local law or regulation protecting the welfare of animals; or

(2) prevents a State or unit of local government from adopting and enforcing an animal welfare law or regulation that is more stringent than this section.

(Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, §12515, Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 5000.)


Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, and not as part of the Animal Welfare Act which comprises this chapter.

CHAPTER 55—DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Sec.
2201.
Establishment of Department.
2202.
Executive Department; Secretary.
2203.
Seal.
2204.
General duties of Secretary; advisory functions; research and development.
2204–1.
Delegation of regulatory functions of Secretary of Agriculture; definitions.
2204–2.
Delegation of regulatory functions to designated employees; status of employees; number; revocation of delegation.
2204–3.
Authority of designated employees; retroactive revocation of delegation.
2204–4.
Delegation of functions under other laws as unaffected.
2204–5.
Authorization of appropriations for cooperative research projects.
2204a.
Rural development; utilization of non-Federal offices; location of field units; interchange of personnel and facilities.
2204b.
Rural development policy.
2204b–1.
Rural development.
2204b–2.
Temporary prioritization of rural health assistance.
2204b–3.
Council on Rural Community Innovation and Economic Development.
2204b–4.
Institute for Rural Partnerships.
2204c.
Water management for rural areas.
2204d.
Encouragement of private contracting.
2204e.
Office of Risk Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis.
2204f.
Repealed.
2204g.
Authority of Secretary of Agriculture to conduct census of agriculture.
2204h.
Local food production and program evaluation.
2204i.
Reports on land access and farmland ownership data collection.
2204j.
National agriculture imagery program.
2205.
Duties of former Commissioner of Agriculture transferred to Secretary.
2206.
Custody of property and records.
2206a.
Conveyance of excess Federal personal property.
2206b.
Availability of excess and surplus computers in rural areas.
2207.
Reports.
2207a.
Reports to Congress on obligation and expenditure.
2207b.
Program metrics.
2207c.
Annual report on work of agricultural experiment stations and of college extension work; publication and distribution.
2207d.
Reports on disbursement of funds for agricultural research and extension at 1862 and 1890 land-grant colleges, including Tuskegee University.
2208.
Expenditure of appropriations; accounting.
2208a.
Loan levels provided to Department of Agriculture.
2209.
Additional statement of expenditures.
2209a.
Advances to chiefs of field parties.
2209b.
Availability of appropriations.
2209c.
Use of funds for one-year contracts to be performed in two fiscal years.
2209d.
Statement of percentage and dollar amount of Federal funding.
2209e.
Prohibition on payments to parties involved with prohibited drug-producing plants.
2209f.
Restriction on commodity purchase program payments.
2209g.
Availability of funds for uniforms or allowances.
2209h.
Reimbursement of Office of the General Counsel.
2209i.
Funding for preparation of final agency decisions regarding discrimination complaints.
2209j.
Permanent debarment from participation in Department of Agriculture programs for fraud.
2209k.
Prohibition on payments to fossil fuel refiners and importers.
2210.
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; appointment.
2211.
Powers and duties of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.
2211a to 2213. Omitted or Repealed.
2214.
General Counsel; appointment.
2215.
Chief clerk.
2216.
Repealed.
2217.
Oaths, affirmations, and affidavits taken by officers, agents, or employees of Department; use and effect.
2217a.
Power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, or require production of books, etc.
2218.
Fee for administering or taking oaths, affirmations, and affidavits.
2219.
Salaries; how paid.
2219a.
Overtime and holiday pay.
2220.
Certain officials and employees of Department and others not subject to restriction on payment of compensation to Government officials and employees.
2221.
Details of persons from or to office of Secretary.
2222.
Details of law clerks.
2223.
Details of employees from and to library and bureaus and offices.
2224.
Details of employees from and to Division of Accounts and Disbursements and bureaus and offices; traveling expenses.
2224a.
Utilization of employees of agencies for part-time and intermittent assistance to other agencies; exclusion of overtime resulting from natural disasters from staff year ceilings.
2225.
Employment of temporary personnel.
2225a.
Contracts for consulting services.
2225b.
Personal service contracts for veterinarians.
2225c.
Employment contracts for services abroad.
2225d.
Availability of Department of Agriculture funds for temporary employment.
2226.
Employment of persons for forest fire fighting, pest control, and handling of animals.
2227.
Traveling expenses.
2228.
Emergency subsistence for employees.
2229.
Travel and per diem expenses of temporary or seasonal employees.
2230.
Employees in Alaska; subsistence, equipment, and supplies.
2231.
Official expenses of employees stationed abroad.
2231a.
Reimbursement of employees for costs of State licenses and certification fees.
2231b.
First amendment rights of employees of the United States Department of Agriculture.
2232.
Stenographic reporting service.
2233.
Funds available for expenses of advisory committees.
2234.
Purchases for bureaus from appropriations for contingent expenses.
2235.
Working capital fund established; use of central services by bureaus, etc., of the Department.
2235a.
Deposit and retention of credit card refunds or rebates.
2236.
Working capital fund for Agricultural Research Center; establishment.
2237.
Use of field work funds for employment of men with equipment, etc.
2238.
Use of field work funds for purchase of arms and ammunition.
2239.
Funds for printing, binding, and scientific and technical article reprint purchases.
2240.
Reimbursement of appropriation for salaries and compensation of employees in mechanical shops.
2241.
Sale or exchange of animals or animal products.
2241a.
Exchange or sale authority.
2241b.
Purchase of seeds and plants for distribution.
2242.
Repealed.
2242a.
User fees for reports, publications, and software.
2242b.
Translation of publications into foreign languages.
2243.
Sale of photographic prints and maps.
2244.
Repealed.
2245.
Sale of prints and lantern slides.
2246.
Loan, rental, or sale of films.
2247.
Sale of samples of pure sugars.
2247a.
Farm or food products; sale of samples, practical forms, etc.
2248.
Statistics relating to turpentine and rosin.
2249.
Amount and character of cooperation.
2250.
Construction and repair of buildings and public improvements.
2250a.
Erection of buildings and other structures on non-Federal lands; duration of use of such lands; removal of structures after termination of use; availability of funds for expenses of acquiring long-term leases or other agreements.
2250b.
Nonrecurring expenses fund.
2251.
Reimbursement of Production and Marketing Administration appropriations for expenses of maintaining registers of indebtedness and making set-offs.
2252.
Reimbursement of Production and Marketing Administration appropriations for costs of procuring agricultural commodities for nongovernmental agencies or foreign governments.
2253.
Adjustment by Secretary of titles to lands acquired by Government and subject to his control.
2254.
Operation, maintenance and purchase of aircraft by Agricultural Research Service; construction and repair of buildings.
2254a.
Availability of funds appropriated for Agricultural Research Service for research related to tobacco or tobacco products.
2254b.
Availability of funds appropriated for Agricultural Research Service for research related to tobacco or tobacco products; exception.
2254c.
Research.
2255.
Membership in International Wheat Advisory Committee, International Sugar Council, etc.
2255a.
Financial assistance to national and international conferences.
2255b.
Department of Agriculture conference transparency.
2256.
Inspections, analyses, and tests for other Government departments and agencies; reimbursement.
2257.
Interchangeability of funds for miscellaneous expenses and general expenses.
2258.
Purchase of newspapers.
2259.
Market-inspection certificates as prima facie evidence.
2260, 2260a. Repealed.
2261.
Credit of donations and proceeds from exhibitions to appropriations concerned with foreign market development programs.
2262.
Employee liability insurance on motor vehicles in foreign countries.
2262a.
Overseas tort claims.
2263.
Transfer of funds.
2264.
National Agricultural Library; acceptance of gifts, bequests, or devises; conditional gifts.
2265.
Deposit of money accepted for benefit of National Agricultural Library; disbursement.
2266.
Congressional reaffirmation of policy to foster and encourage family farms.
2266a.
Century Farms program.
2266b.
Eligibility for operators on heirs property land to obtain a farm number.
2267.
Repealed.
2268.
Public lands; relinquishment.
2268a.
Acquisition of land; options.
2269.
Gifts of property; acceptance and administration by Secretary of Agriculture; Federal tax law consideration; separate fund in Treasury; regulations.
2270.
Authority of Office of Inspector General.
2270a.
Office of Inspector General; transfer of forfeiture funds for law enforcement activities.
2270b.
Department of Agriculture Inspector General investigation of Forest Service firefighter deaths.
2270c.
Submission of results.
2271.
Marketing education programs for small and medium size family farm operations.
2271a.
Advanced marketing training for farmers and ranchers.
2272.
Volunteers for Department of Agriculture programs.
2272a.
Funds for incidental expenses and promotional items relating to volunteers.
2273.
Local search and rescue operations.
2274.
Firearm authority of employees engaged in animal quarantine enforcement.
2274a.
Firearm authority of employees conducting field work in remote locations.
2275.
Repealed.
2276.
Confidentiality of information.
2277.
Contracts by Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for services to be performed abroad.
2278.
Consistency with international obligations of United States.
2279.
Farming opportunities training and outreach.
2279–1.
Transparency and accountability for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
2279–2.
Report of civil rights complaints, resolutions, and actions.
2279a.
Fair and equitable treatment of socially disadvantaged producers.
2279b.
Department of Agriculture educational, training, and professional development activities.
2279c.
Student internship programs.
2279d.
Compensatory damages in claims under Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
2279e.
Civil penalty.
2279f.
Subpoena authority.
2279g.
Marketing services; cooperative agreements.
2279h.
Cross-servicing activities of National Finance Center.
2279i.
Cooperation with State and other agencies; expenditures.
2279j.
Conversion authority.
2279k.
Authorization of protection operations for the Secretary of Agriculture and others.

        

About This Section

7 U.S.C. § 2160 is part of Title 7 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 2160

What does United States Code § 2160 cover?

Section 2160 ("Prohibition on slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

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