An Act To Protect Maine Communities by Prohibiting Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption and the Transport of Horses for Slaughter
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1286
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: KNIGHT, DICKERSON, KATZ, CASAVANT, ESPLING, KENT, SIROCKI, VOLK, WEAVER, JACKSON
Amends: 17 MRSA §3967, 22 MRSA §2163, 22 MRSA §2511, 22 MRSA §2523

Legislative Document 
No. 1286 
H.P. 913 
House of Representatives, April 2, 2013 
An Act To Protect Maine Communities by Prohibiting Horse 
Slaughter for Human Consumption and the Transport of Horses for 
Slaughter 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative KNIGHT of Livermore Falls. 
Cosponsored by Representative DICKERSON of Rockland, Senator KATZ of Kennebec and 
Representatives: CASAVANT of Biddeford, ESPLING of New Gloucester, KENT of 
Woolwich, MacDONALD of Old Orchard Beach, SIROCKI of Scarborough, VOLK of 
Scarborough, WEAVER of York, Senator: JACKSON of Aroostook. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  17 MRSA §3967 is enacted to read: 
§3967.  Equine slaughter for human consumption 
1.  Definitions.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A.  "Horse" includes all members of the genus Equus, including horses, ponies, 
donkeys, mules, asses and burros. 
B.  "Horseflesh" means the flesh of a dead horse and includes the animal's viscera, 
skin, hair, hide, hooves and bones. 
C.  "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association or other 
legal entity. 
2.  Prohibition against horse slaughter.  A person may not slaughter or otherwise 
cause or procure the death of, or have another person slaughter or otherwise cause or 
procure the death of, a horse if that person knows or should know that any of the 
horseflesh is intended for human consumption. 
3.  Prohibition against possession of horse for slaughter.  A person may not sell, 
barter, give away or purchase or offer to sell, barter or purchase or possess, transport, 
deliver or receive a horse with the intent of slaughtering or otherwise causing or 
procuring the death of, or having another person slaughter or otherwise cause or procure 
the death of, the horse if that person knows or should know that any of the horseflesh is 
intended for human consumption. 
4.  Prohibition against export or import of horse for slaughter.  A person may not 
import into or export from this State a live horse when that person knows or should know 
that the horse is intended for slaughter for human consumption. 
5.  Prohibition against sale, purchase, possession, import or export of horseflesh.  
A person may not sell, barter, give away or purchase or offer to sell, barter or purchase or 
possess, transport, deliver, receive or import into or export from this State horseflesh if 
that person knows or should know that any of the horseflesh is intended for human 
consumption. 
6.  Prohibition against construction or operation of horse slaughtering facility.  
A person may not construct or operate a facility if that person knows or should know that 
the facility is used or will be used for the slaughter of horses for human consumption. 
7.  Penalty.  A person who violates this section commits a Class C crime.  A court 
may also order any person convicted of violating this section to submit to a mental health 
evaluation as determined by the court and undergo any recommended counseling or 
treatment. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, a person convicted under this 
section may be barred from owning or possessing any animals, or living on the same 
property with someone who owns or possesses animals, for a period of time considered 
appropriate by the court and required to take humane education classes as ordered by the 
court. 
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA §2163, as amended by PL 1979, c. 731, §19 and PL 2011, c. 
657, Pt. W, §6, is repealed. 
Sec. 3.  22 MRSA §2511, sub-§25, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 771, §1, is amended 
to read: 
25.  Livestock.  "Livestock" means cattle, domesticated deer, sheep, swine, goats, 
domestic rabbits, horses, mules, other equines or other designated animals, whether live 
or dead. 
Sec. 4.  22 MRSA §2511, sub-§27, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 771, §1, is amended 
to read: 
27.  Meat.  "Meat" means the part of the muscle of cattle, domesticated deer, sheep, 
swine, goats, horses, mules, other equines or other designated animals that is skeletal or 
that is found in the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus, with or without the 
accompanying and overlying fat, and the portions of bone, skin, sinew, nerve and blood 
vessels that normally accompany the muscle tissue but does not include the muscle found 
in the lips, snout or ears. 
Sec. 5.  22 MRSA §2523, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 777, §1, is repealed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill prohibits the slaughter of horses for human consumption and: 
1.  Bans the possession, sale, purchase, transportation and import into or export out of 
this State of a horse if the person knows or should know that the horse is meant to be 
slaughtered for human consumption; 
2.  Bans the possession, sale, purchase, transportation, import into or export out of 
this State of horseflesh if the person knows or should know that the horseflesh is for 
human consumption; 
3.  Bans the construction or operation of a facility that the person knows or should 
know is used or will be used for the slaughter of horses for human consumption; and 
4.  Repeals current law that allows horsemeat to be sold in this State as long as it is 
plainly and conspicuously labeled as such.