In 2019, the New York City Council passed a ban on the sale of foie gras within city limits. After years of lawsuits, the ban is now in effect.
A years-long fight for farmed animals reached a landmark moment. The New York State Appellate Division has upheld New York City’s ban on the sale of foie gras—and for the ducks and geese at the center of this story, it couldn’t have come soon enough.
For World Animal Protection and the more than 50 nonprofit organizations that stood behind Local Law 202, March’s ruling is the culmination of nearly a decade of advocacy, coalition-building, and refusal to let the foie gras industry have the final word.
The Ban, the Battles, and the Breakthrough
In 2019, the New York City Council passed Intro 1378—now Local Law 202—with the backing of 81 percent of New York City voters. Championed by then-Council Member Carlina Rivera and led by Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR), the law prohibited any restaurant or retailer in New York City from selling foie gras or any product made from force-fed birds. World Animal Protection was proud to be among the coalition of organizations that testified at the 2019 City Council hearing and supported its passage.
The law was supposed to take effect in 2022. Instead, upstate foie gras producers Hudson Valley Foie Gras and La Belle Farm launched a sustained legal campaign to block it, arguing that the state’s Agriculture and Markets Law gave the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets authority to override the city’s ban. The Commissioner agreed—twice—finding that Local Law 202 unreasonably restricted farm operations under state law. VFAR is a proposed intervenor-appellant and an amicus curiae in the case.
Last month, Appellate Division rejected that argument. The court ruled clearly that Agriculture and Markets Law § 305-a was never intended to give the state power to override local laws based solely on their indirect financial effects on agricultural operations. New York City’s home rule authority—its fundamental right to govern itself—was affirmed. Violators of the ban will now face fines of up to $2,000 per violation.
Cameorn Harsh, Interim Executive Director at World Animal Protection US, says:
“This ruling is a major victory for farmed animals. By upholding New York City’s 2019 ban on the sale of foie gras, the court has reaffirmed that cruelty has no place in our food system. World Animal Protection proudly joined with a coalition of 50 animal protection organizations to pass this law and protect the ducks and geese at the center of it. We hope New York City’s leadership inspires other cities to take action to end this cruel practice.”
Allie Taylor, President of Voters For Animal Rights, states:
“Voters For Animal Rights is overjoyed with this historic victory for animals and grateful that New York City’s right to govern itself remains intact. This ruling not only upholds the city’s ability to make decisions in the best interest of its residents, human and nonhuman alike, but also shows the power of citizens coming together for justice and compassion. This is a momentous step forward in creating a kinder, more humane world, and it proves that meaningful change is possible when people refuse to accept cruelty as the status quo.”
What Is Foie Gras—and Why Does This Ban Matter?
Foie gras—French for “fatty liver”—is produced by force-feeding ducks and geese through a metal pipe inserted down their esophagus, multiple times a day, over several weeks. The process, known as gavage, causes the bird’s liver to swell to up to 10 times its natural size, resulting in esophageal injury, organ failure, difficulty breathing, and in many cases, death before slaughter.
The veterinary and scientific consensus on the cruelty of this practice is unambiguous—which is why foie gras production is already banned in more than 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and India, and why California banned its sale in 2004 (with lawsuits delaying the ban’s implementation until 2020). New York City’s ban puts it firmly in that company, sending a clear message that the most extreme forms of farmed animal cruelty are not welcome within its borders.
This ruling means that message now has legal force behind it.
What to Do If You See Foie Gras Being Sold in NYC
With the ban now in effect, any food service or retail establishment in New York City selling foie gras or force-fed products is breaking the law. Here is how you can help hold them accountable:
- Document it. Photograph the menu item or product and note the establishment’s name, address, and the date.
- Report it. File a complaint via 311 or the NYC 311 website with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and let Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR is actively working to enforce this law.)
- Speak up. Let the establishment know politely but clearly that selling foie gras is now illegal in New York City and carries significant fines.
Enforcement is strongest when the public is engaged—and we know New York City’s community of animal advocates is paying attention.
How You Can Help Bring This Fight to Your City
New York City’s victory is proof that sustained, coalition-driven advocacy works. If you want to see a foie gras ban where you live, here is how to get started:
- Contact your representatives. Call or email your city council member or state legislator and urge them to introduce similar legislation. Point to New York City as a model—it can be done.
- Build a coalition. Reach out to local animal protection organizations, humane restaurants, and community groups. Email us and we can provide tools and support to help you make the case.
- Raise awareness. The more people understand what foie gras production actually involves, the less appetite there is for it—politically and literally. Share this story widely.
- Support the organizations doing the work. World Animal Protection and our partners are fighting for farmed animals in cities and statehouses across the country. Donating, volunteering, and amplifying our work all help push this movement forward.
- Vote with your wallet. Seek out and support restaurants that have committed to cruelty-free menus and let them know it matters to you.
This ruling is a victory not just for New York City, but for every advocate who believes that farmed animals deserve better than the law has historically given them. We celebrate it—and we will build on it.