LRB-4342/1
RCT:rs&cmh:pg
2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE
March 12, 2002 - Introduced by Senators Kanavas and Grobschmidt, cosponsored
by Representative Duff. Referred to Committee on Labor and Agriculture.
SB497,1,1
1An Act to create 97.55 of the statutes;
relating to: sale of halal food.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Current law prohibits a person from doing any of the following with intent to
defraud:
1. Falsely representing that any meat sold by the person is kosher and as
having been prepared under orthodox Hebrew religious requirements.
2. Falsely representing that any food is kosher and as having been prepared
under orthodox Hebrew religious requirements by having the word "kosher" on the
food's package.
3. Selling both kosher and nonkosher meat unless each kind of meat is
identified as kosher or nonkosher.
4. In a restaurant, falsely representing that food is kosher and as having been
prepared under orthodox Hebrew religious requirements.
5. In a restaurant, selling both kosher and nonkosher food unless the window
signs and display advertising state that both kosher and nonkosher foods are sold.
This bill creates prohibitions related to the sale of halal food that are the same
as under current law related to kosher food. "Halal" is defined as prepared under and
maintained in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Islamic religion as
expressed by reliable, recognized Islamic entities and scholars.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB497, s. 1
1Section
1. 97.55 of the statutes is created to read:
SB497,2,5
297.55 Halal food. (1) In this section "halal" means prepared under and
3maintained in strict compliance with the laws and customs of the Islamic religion,
4including the laws and customs relating to slaughter, as expressed by reliable,
5recognized Islamic entities and scholars.
SB497,2,6
6(2) No person may, with intent to defraud, do any of the following:
SB497,2,107
(a) Sell or expose for sale any meat or meat preparation, whether raw or
8prepared for human consumption, and falsely represent the meat or meat
9preparation to be halal, and as having been prepared under and of a product or
10products sanctioned by the Islamic religious requirements.
SB497,2,1411
(b) Falsely represent any food product or the contents of any package or
12container to be halal and as having been prepared under and of a product or products
13sanctioned by the Islamic religious requirements, by having or permitting to be
14inscribed on the package or container the word "halal" in any language.
SB497,2,1815
(c) Sell or expose for sale in the same place of business both halal and nonhalal
16meat or meat preparations, either raw or prepared for human consumption, unless
17all of that person's window signs and display advertising indicate, in block letters at
18least 4 inches in height, "Halal and Nonhalal Meat Sold Here".
SB497,2,2319
(d) Expose for sale in any show window or place of business both halal and
20nonhalal meat or meat preparations, either raw or prepared for human consumption,
21unless the person displays over each kind of meat or meat preparation so exposed a
22sign in block letters at least 4 inches in height reading "Halal Meat", or "Nonhalal
23Meat", as the case may be.
SB497,2,24
24(3) No person, with intent to defraud, may do any of the following:
SB497,3,4
1(a) Sell or expose for sale in any such restaurant or other place where food
2products are sold for consumption on the premises, any article of food or food
3preparations that is falsely represented to be halal and as having been prepared in
4accordance with the Islamic requirements.
SB497,3,105
(b) Sell or expose for sale in any restaurant or other place both halal and
6nonhalal food or food preparations for consumption on the premises when not
7prepared in accordance with the Islamic ritual and not sanctioned by the Islamic
8religious requirements, unless the person's window signs and display advertising
9state, in block letters at least 4 inches in height, "Halal and Nonhalal Food Served
10Here".
