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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 9Pt. 3Ch. 4Art. 7§ 18851 Unlawful Animal Carcass Handling

§ 18851 Unlawful Animal Carcass Handling

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 18851 Unlawful Animal Carcass Handling

This law says you can't buy, sell, or move sick or dead animals (or parts of them) unless you follow special rules to make sure they don't end up as human food.

Key Takeaways

  • •You can't sell or move dead or sick animals (or their parts) without following rules.
  • •The rules make sure these animals aren't used for human food.
  • •This applies to cows, chickens, and other livestock or poultry.

Example

A farmer has a cow that dies on its own, not from being slaughtered.

The farmer can't sell the cow's meat to a butcher shop unless they follow rules to prove it won't be eaten by people.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18851 Unlawful Animal Carcass Handling

It is unlawful for any person engaged in the business of buying, selling, or transporting, in intrastate commerce, dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animals, or any parts of the carcasses of any animals that died otherwise than by slaughter to buy, sell, transport, offer for sale or transportation, or receive for transportation, in intrastate commerce, any dead, dying, disabled, or diseased livestock or poultry, or any products of the animal that died otherwise than by slaughter, unless the transaction or transportation, is made in accordance with any regulations the director may prescribe to assure that the animal, or the part or product thereof, will be prevented from being used for human food purposes, and is in compliance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 19200) of this part and Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 113025) of Part 6 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code. (Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1023, Sec. 60. Effective September 29, 1996.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

dead, dying, disabled, or diseased animalsintrastate commerceregulations the director may prescribehuman food purposesChapter 5 (commencing with Section 19200)Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 113025) of Part 6 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code

Related Statutes

  • § 18841 Livestock Slaughter Compliance Rules
  • § 18842 Sale Of Inspected Food Products
  • § 18843 Livestock Food Adulteration Prohibition
  • § 18844 Poultry Processing Requirements
  • § 18849 Equine Meat Labeling Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 18851.
View Official Source