Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018
{{Short description|Federal law banning the dog and cat meat trade in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox U.S. legislation
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| longtitle = An Act to prohibit the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption, and for other purposes.
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| nickname = Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018
| enacted by = 115th
| effective date = December 20, 2018
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| cite public law = {{uspl|115|334}}
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| title amended = 7 U.S.C.: Agriculture
| sections created = {{Usc-title-chap|7|54}} § 2160
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| introducedin = House
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| introducedby = Vern Buchanan (R–FL) and Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
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| passedbody1 = House
| passeddate1 = September 12, 2018 (voice vote)
Died in the Senate and incorporated into the 2018 United States farm bill.
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The Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018 ({{USBill|115|HR|6720}}), was a bipartisan bill intended to outlaw the slaughter and trade of cats and dogs for meat in the United States. Although not enacted in its own right, a version of it was incorporated into the 2018 Farm Bill on December 11, 2018. The reconciled farm bill was signed into law on December 20, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrdw.com/content/news/President-Trump-Signs-the-Farm-Bill-Making-Dog-and-Cat-Meat-Illegal-in-the-United-States-503308841.html|title=President Trump signs the Farm Bill making dog and cat meat illegal in the United States|agency=Associated Press|website=www.wrdw.com|date=21 December 2018 |language=english|access-date=2018-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-is-improving-american-agriculture-programs/|title=President Donald J. Trump Is Improving American Agriculture Programs|language=en-US|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|access-date=2018-12-27}}
The law prohibits the shipping, sale and transportation of dogs and cats for the "purpose of slaughter for human consumption", except for Native American tribes performing religious ceremonies.{{cite web |last1=Anapol |first1=Avery |title=House passes bill outlawing the eating of cats and dogs |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/406366-house-passes-bill-outlawing-the-eating-of-cats-and-dogs |website=The Hill |date=12 September 2018 |access-date=19 September 2018}}
The original bill was first introduced in March 2017 by Republican Representative Vern Buchanan and Democratic Representative Alcee Hastings.{{Cite web|url=http://sunshinestatenews.com/story/vern-buchanans-alcee-hastings-proposal-banning-slaughter-cats-and-dogs-human-consumption-now|title=Vern Buchanan's, Alcee Hastings' Proposal Banning Slaughter of Cats and Dogs for Human Consumption Now Law|last=Derby|first=Kevin|date=2018-12-22|website=Sunshine State News {{!}} Florida Political News|language=en|access-date=2018-12-27}} In November 2017, it passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee as part of an effort to encourage the end of the dog and cat meat trade in countries such as China, South Korea, Vietnam, and India.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-house-bans-eating-of-dogs-and-cats/articleshow/65796377.cms|title=US House bans eating of dogs and cats - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=13 September 2018 |access-date=2018-12-27}} The bill passed the House by voice vote on September 12, 2018. The Senate received it on September 17 and referred it to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.{{cite web |title=H.R.6720 - Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act of 2018 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/6720?r=73 |website=congress.gov |access-date=19 September 2018}}
The bill was promoted by the animal welfare group, the Animal Hope and Wellness Foundation (AHWF).{{Cite press release|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181213005471/en/Dog-Cat-Meat-Prohibition-Act-Passes-House|title=Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act Passes House and Senate|date=2018-12-13|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2018-12-27}} They believe the practice of slaughtering dogs and cats for human consumption is still legal in 44 U.S. states, although federally prohibited.