Europeans Suspend Horsemeat Imports From Mexico, Impacting North American Slaughter Operations

The European Commission has taken a significant step by suspending the import of horsemeat from Mexico to the European Union (EU) due to food safety concerns. This decision marks a major setback for the North American horse slaughter industry, which relies heavily on exports to EU countries like Belgium, France, and Italy.

The horse slaughter industry has faced challenges since The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) led efforts to shut down U.S. horse slaughter plants in 2007. Mexico, which not only slaughters its horses but also imports American horses for this purpose, now faces an uncertain future in this trade.

Jo Swabe, executive director of Humane Society International (HSI) EU, and I have repeatedly appealed to EU leaders about the rampant abuse and drugging of horses in North America. The EU's decision reflects a long-standing concern about the safety of horsemeat originating from U.S. horses, which are not raised as food animals and often treated with drugs unfit for human consumption.

The suspension follows audits by the Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO), revealing significant animal welfare issues and traceability concerns for horses slaughtered in EU-certified facilities in Mexico. The audit highlights that 87% of these horses come from the United States, lacking lifetime medical records and failing to meet EU food safety standards.

While the audit focused on food safety, it also documented severe animal suffering in the U.S. and Mexico, including the slaughter of sick horses and poor conditions during transport. The HSUS has consistently exposed these issues through undercover footage, with support from groups like Animals Angels.

The horse slaughter industry prioritizes profit over animal welfare, often outbidding legitimate horse owners at auctions. This focus on profit is why the industry resists federal legislation like the SAFE Act, which aims to halt horse transport for slaughter.

With Congress defunding U.S. slaughter operations and the EU's import suspension, there's no justification for continuing this trade. The American public does not view horses as food, and the industry's practices remain reckless and inhumane.

Originally Posted By HSUS