---
title: O.C.G.A. § 26-2-156. Slaughter of horses for human consumption or other purposes.
collection: code
id: 26-2-156
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 26-2-156 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/26-2-156
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/26-2-156.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/26-2-156/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t24-t26-(v21)-2023-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=5423edd_0#page=363
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/26-2.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/26-2-155.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS / STANDARDS, LABELING, AND ADULTERATION OF FOOD / ADVERTISEMENT AND SALE OF MEAT GENERALLY
---

# O.C.G.A. § 26-2-156. Slaughter of horses for human consumption or other purposes.

(a) No person, partnership, association, corporation, or firm shall slaughter a horse in this state for the purpose of selling or offering for sale for human consumption or for other than human consumption the horse meat derived from such slaughtered animal unless:

(1) Such horse shall have remained on the business premises for at least four consecutive days prior to its slaughter;

(2) The vehicle license plate number and state of issue of any motor vehicle and any trailer used to transport such horse to the business premises is recorded and retained at such premises;

(3) An identifying description of such horse is maintained at such premises;

(4) The person delivering or selling the horse or horses is identified by his driver’s license number and address and said number is recorded on the bill of sale; and

(5) Satisfactory records, pursuant to rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture, are kept to show information required in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this subsection.

(b) Any person, partnership, association, corporation, or firm violating this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

## History

Ga. L. 1979, p. 846, §§ 1, 3.

## Cross References

Labeling and preparation of carcasses, meat, and meat food products of equines, mules, and other animals, § 26-2-111.

## Administrative Rules and Regulations

Separation of slaughter and preparation establishments, Official Compilation of the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Meat and Poultry Inspection, Meat Inspection - Meat Processing, Rule 40-10-1-.06.