Federal Legislation Aims to Ban Horse Slaughter in the U.S.

Proposed federal legislation seeks to ban the export of American horses for slaughter, reinstate a ban on slaughtering them in the U.S., and protect the public from consuming potentially toxic horse meat.

The SAFE Act

The measure, known as the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, follows revelations of horse meat being mislabeled as beef in Europe, including in IKEA meatballs. Sponsors of the bill include Senators Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Representatives Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). The bill aims to outlaw the killing of American horses for human consumption and prohibit their transport across U.S. borders for slaughter in Mexico and Canada.

Concerns Over Horse Slaughter

Proponents argue that tens of thousands of American horses are exported annually for slaughter in a foreign industry that produces unsafe food for consumers. A federal ban on horse slaughter in the U.S. was in effect from 2006 until it lapsed in 2011, allowing a New Mexico company to plan a slaughterhouse.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to process an application for inspecting horse slaughter at Valley Meat Company LLC in Roswell, N.M. However, Valley Meat Company owner Rick de los Santos expressed frustration over the delay, citing economic benefits for the community.

"I've seen 130,000 horses a year on their way to Mexico — they go right through our backyard — and I wanted to tap into the market," he told The Times. "I could have hired 100 people by now. Everyone in our community agrees we need this type of service. And I'm tired of waiting."

De los Santos claimed readiness to start humane horse slaughter, stating, "Everything that has four legs that walks can be slaughtered the same way, but we're ready to do this humanely."

Animal Welfare and Safety Concerns

Animal advocates argue that horse slaughter is inherently inhumane. The Humane Society of the United States stated, "The methods used to kill horses rarely result in quick, painless deaths, as horses often endure repeated stuns or blows and sometimes remain conscious during their slaughter and dismemberment." They also highlighted the poor conditions during transport to slaughterhouses.

Additionally, domestic horses often receive drugs that could be toxic to humans. Some horses at foreign slaughterhouses come from wild mustang herds managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which sells them at auctions where "kill buyers" may be present.

“This is a bill whose time has come," Meehan said at a news conference. "Until a ban is in place, every horse is just one bad sale away from being sent to slaughter.”

Originally Posted By the LA Times