Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled on August 11 that the force feeding of geese and ducks in the production of foie gras violates that country’s Animal Welfare Law.
A group called Concern for Helping Animals in Israel filed a lawsuit in 2001 against foie gras producers in Israel claiming that the force feeding of approximately 800,000 animals each year violated the Animal Welfare Law.
Israel is the world’s third largest producer of foie gras, and the industry employs about 600 people. There are about 100 farms producing foie gras, with about 45 percent of those using force feeding.
Those currently using force feeding will have until at least March 2005 to develop alternatives.
Sources:
Israel court cans foie gras farms. BBC, August 13, 2003.
High Court rules against force-feeding geese. Stuart Winer, The Jerusalem Post, August 13, 2003.
Court bans fattening of geese for foie gras. National Post (Canada), August 12, 2003.