(a) No person engaged in business as a slaughterer, packer or stockyard operator shall cause or permit any cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats or other animals to be slaughtered or put into position for slaughter unless such animals are rendered insensible to pain or are restrained by an approved method. For the purpose of this section, a person shall be deemed to be engaged in business who slaughters any such animal for sale or trade.

(b) The following shall be deemed to be approved methods: (1) Rendering the animal insensible to pain by gunshot or mechanical, electrical, chemical or other rapid and effective means approved by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection or by the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States pursuant to the federal Humane Slaughter Act of 1958 (An Act of Congress approved August 27, 1958, Public Law 85-765, 72 Stat. 862, 7 USC 1901-1906), as amended; (2) restraint of the animal by means of a pen approved by the commissioner which firmly encloses the animal and, with a minimum of excitement and discomfort, places the animal in such a position that a cutting stroke may be administered quickly and efficiently; (3) restraint of the animal by means of a body harness approved by the commissioner which lifts, supports and cradles the animal and, with a minimum of excitement and discomfort, places it in such a position that a cutting stroke may be administered quickly and efficiently, and (4) restraint of the animal by any other means approved by the commissioner which causes the animal no unreasonable or unnecessary pain and which, with a minimum of excitement and discomfort, places the animal in such a position that a cutting stroke may be administered quickly and efficiently.

(c) Use of a manually-operated sledge, hammer or poleax to render an animal insensible to pain is prohibited.

(d) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. The commissioner, or any meat inspector acting under his direction, may seize any animal slaughtered in violation of the provisions of this section and the commissioner may, at his discretion, sell or otherwise dispose of the same. The proceeds from any such sale shall be paid to the State Treasurer to be credited to the General Fund.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit, abridge or in any way hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in order to protect freedom of religion and ritual slaughter, the handling and other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are humane and are not to be regulated by any terms of this section.