STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Senator RAJ MUKHERJI
District 32 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Cryan, Greenstein, Zwicker, McKnight and O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits forcibly feeding certain poultry for production of foie gras.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning force-feeding certain poultry for the purposes of producing foie gras and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. No person shall forcibly feed a goose, duck, or other poultry, or hire another person to forcibly feed a goose, duck, or other poultry, by using a tube or other apparatus inserted in the beak, bill, or throat of the bird, to overfeed the bird for the purposes of producing foie gras. This subsection shall not apply when a person forcibly feeds a bird for the purpose of improving the bird’s health.
b. No person shall distribute, sell, or offer to sell foie gras or any foie gras product unless the foie gras or foie gras containing product originated from a state or other jurisdiction that prohibits the practice of force feeding birds. A product may not be imported or sold in the State if it is produced by force feeding a bird for the purpose of enlarging the bird’s liver beyond a normal size.
c. A person who violates any provision of this act shall be given a written warning for the first offense, and shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $100 for a second or subsequent offense. Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. The penalty shall be collected by the Secretary of Agriculture in a civil action by summary proceeding under the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The Superior Court and the municipal court shall have jurisdiction over proceedings for the enforcement of the penalty established by this section.
2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits the force feeding of duck, goose, or other poultry, for the production of foie gras. The prohibition would not apply, however, when a person forcibly feeds a bird for the purpose of improving the bird’s health. This bill also prohibits the distribution, sale, and offer for sale of foie gras and any foie gras products unless the foie gras or foie gras containing product originated from a state or jurisdiction that bans the practice of force feeding birds. Furthermore, the bill authorizes civil penalties to be imposed by the Secretary of Agriculture for a violation of the bill. The Superior Court and municipal court would have jurisdiction over proceedings for the enforcement of penalties under the bill. A person who violates the provisions in the bill would receive a written warning for the first offense, and a fine of $100 for a second and each subsequent offense. Each day a violation continues would constitute a separate offense. This bill would take effect on the 60th day after the date of enactment.