D.C. Foie Gras Ban Wins Strong Support in Early Returns, With Congressional Review Still Ahead

Washington, D.C.’s Initiative 86 drew about 73 percent support in election-night returns on November 3, City Cast DC reported, citing the District’s Board of Elections tally as of 9:30 p.m. The initiative would prohibit force-feeding poultry to enlarge their livers and bar commercial sales of fattened bird liver products, including foie gras. The early tally is unofficial, and the restrictions are not in effect.

The measure would apply to restaurants and retailers, whether they sell a covered product on its own or serve it as an ingredient. It also restricts bringing those products into the District for commercial purposes, regardless of where they were made. A separate provision prohibits force-feeding for liver enlargement and exempts feeding directed by a licensed veterinarian solely for treatment.

The District’s Department of Energy and Environment would enforce the measure through routine inspections of food service and retail establishments. The text calls for a public database of violations and penalties, updated quarterly. Civil penalties would range from $1,000 to $5,000 per violation, and repeated violations could put a business license at risk.

The initiative’s text requires a congressional review period and publication in the District of Columbia Register before it takes effect. It sets July 1, 2027, as the date the provisions would begin to apply, with a possible later start for provisions that require funding if the relevant costs have yet to be included in an approved District budget.

Why This Matters for Animals

Conventional foie gras production uses force-feeding to enlarge the livers of ducks or geese. The initiative addresses both how birds are treated within the District and what local businesses can buy and sell. The sales provisions would therefore reach products from birds raised elsewhere without directly regulating those farms. The early vote shows strong support for the restrictions; it does not establish how many birds would be affected once the measure is implemented.

Source: City Cast DC — Initiative 86 election-night reporting