Sao Paulo bans production and sale of foie gras

Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo has banned the production and sale of foie gras, a delicacy made from the fatty liver of force-fed ducks and geese.

While animal rights campaigners have welcomed the move, some of Sao Paulo's chefs have voiced concern, BBC reported.

The Sao Paulo city council has set a fine of 5,000 reais (£1,000) for restaurants and bars that fail to comply with the new law which will take effect in 45 days.

"Foie gras is an appetiser for the wealthy," said the city councillor Laercio Benko who drew up the legislation.

"It does not benefit human health and to make it, the birds are submitted to a lot of suffering," he said.

Sao Paulo-based chef Alex Atala did not share the same sentiments. "How can a city regulate what a person eats? Where will it all end," he told the UOL news portal.

Several countries including Britain, Germany, Italy and Argentina have banned foie gras production. The sale of the pate however is still allowed in most of the countries, BBC said.