Congress Considers Reviving Ban
on Horse Meat Processing
A bipartisan group of U.S. congressmen on Wednesday introduced a bill to prohibit horse slaughter for human consumption, following efforts by several companies to restart horse meat processing in the United States, according to media reports.
The bill would halt the startup of a proposed slaughtering facility by Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, N.M., that hopes to soon begin producing horse meat for export.
The bill also would block the export of U.S. horses for slaughter in Mexico and Canada. About 170,000 horses were sent to slaughter in those countries last year, the Wall Street Journal reported.
USDA has received applications from six companies seeking permission to start slaughtering horses, according to the New York Times, citing documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Those companies are seeking approval for facilities in Iowa, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Rockville and Gallatin, Mo.
Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Reps. Patrick Meehan (R-Penn.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) introduced the new bill to prohibit horse slaughter and export of horses for slaughter.
In 2011, Congress opened the door to the resumption of horse slaughtering in the United States when it let lapse a rider to an appropriations bill that had prevented USDA from financing inspection of horse meat since 2007. However, USDA never restarted inspections.
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