The Florida Senate

828.23  Definitions; ss. 828.22-828.26.--As used in ss. 828.22-828.26, the following words shall have the meaning indicated:

(1)  "Department" means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(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, ostriches, and any other animal which can or may be used in and for the preparation of meat or meat products.

(5)  "Packer" means any person engaged in the business of slaughtering, or of manufacturing or 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)  "Stockyard" means any place, establishment, or facility commonly known as a stockyard, conducted or operated for compensation or profit as a public market, consisting of pens, or other enclosures, and their appurtenances, for the handling, keeping, and holding of livestock for the purpose of sale or shipment.

(7)  "Humane method" means either:

(a)  A method whereby the animal is rendered insensible to pain by mechanical, electrical, chemical, or other means that are rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or

(b)  A method in accordance with ritual requirements of any 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.

History.--s. 1, ch. 61-254; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 282, ch. 71-377; s. 4, ch. 92-206.