510 ILCS 75

in effect

510 ILCS 75/0.01

(510 ILCS 75/0.01) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.50) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Humane Slaughter of Livestock Act. (Source: P.A. 86-1324.)

(510 ILCS 75/1) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.51) Sec. 1. It is declared to be the policy of the State of Illinois that the commercial slaughtering of all livestock, including the handling of livestock in connection with commercial slaughtering, shall be carried out only by humane methods. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 2023.)

510 ILCS 75/2 As used in this Act: (1) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois

(510 ILCS 75/2) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.52) Sec. 2. As used in this Act: (1) "Director" means the Director of the Department of Agriculture of the State of Illinois. (2) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or association doing business in this State, in whole or in part. (3) "Slaughterer" means any person regularly engaged in the commercial slaughtering of livestock. (4) "Livestock" means cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, and any other animal which can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products for consumption by human beings or animals. "Livestock", however, does not include horses, mules, or other equidae to be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products for consumption by human beings, which is prohibited under Section 1.5 of the Illinois Horse Meat Act. (5) "Packer" means any person engaged in the business of slaughtering or manufacturing or otherwise preparing meat or meat products for sale, either by such person or others; or of manufacturing or preparing livestock products for sale by such person or others. (6) "Humane method" means either (a) a method whereby the animal is rendered insensible to pain by gunshot or 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 ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other 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. (Source: P.A. 95-2, eff. 5-24-07.)

510 ILCS 75/3

(510 ILCS 75/3) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.53) Sec. 3. No slaughterer or packer shall bleed or slaughter any livestock except by a humane method. The following methods are in all instances prohibited: (a) Use of a manually operated hammer, sledge or pole-ax as a means of slaughtering any animal or of rendering any animal unconscious in preparation for slaughter. (b) Shackling and hoisting or hanging any animal while such animal is conscious, in the positioning of such animal for slaughter. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 2023.)

510 ILCS 75/4

(510 ILCS 75/4) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.54) Sec. 4. In order to protect freedom of religion, paragraph (b) of Section 3 does not apply to calves and sheep and cattle where ritually acceptable and practical methods are unavailable for positioning livestock for purposes of slaughter in accordance with the requirements of any religious faith. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 2023.)

510 ILCS 75/5

(510 ILCS 75/5) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.55) Sec. 5. The Director shall administer this Act. He shall promulgate and may from time to time revise rules and regulations in connection with this Act. The Director may, by administrative order, exempt from compliance with this Act, for a period of not to exceed one year after the effective date of this Act, any slaughterer if, in the judgment of the Director, earlier compliance would cause undue hardship. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 2023.)

510 ILCS 75/6

(510 ILCS 75/6) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.56) Sec. 6. Any violation of this Act or of the rules and regulations promulgated by the Director is a petty offense. (Source: P.A. 77-2684.)

510 ILCS 75/7

(510 ILCS 75/7) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.57) Sec. 7. This Act shall take effect July 1, 1968. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 2023.)

510 ILCS 75/8

(510 ILCS 75/8) (from Ch. 8, par. 229.58) Sec. 8. This Act is not applicable to a slaughterer or packer subject to and in compliance with the Federal Humane Slaughter Act of 1958, 72 Stat. 862, and any amendments thereto and regulations thereunder. (Source: Laws 1967, p. 2023.)

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs.aspFetched: 10/17/2026