Thousands of Lives Saved by EU Ban on Horse Meat Imports
Introduction: The European Union's ban on horse meat imports from Mexico, implemented in January 2015, has had a profound impact on the horse slaughter industry. This article explores the effects of the ban, highlighting the significant decrease in U.S. horses exported for slaughter and the broader implications for the industry.
Impact of the EU Ban
It has been almost 18 months since the EU banned all horse meat imports from Mexico. Some critics have labeled the ban as "useless," claiming it did not significantly help the horses. To address these concerns, Animals' Angels requested export figures for horses sent to Mexico for slaughter in 2014 (before the ban) and in 2015 (after the ban).
These figures, obtained from USDA Foreign Agricultural Services, revealed a 31.14% decrease in slaughter horse exports to Mexico from 2014 to 2015. This translates to 33,814 U.S. horses saved from slaughter in Mexico due to the EU ban.
Financial Impact
The revenue from U.S. slaughter horse imports into Mexico suffered a 37.19% loss, dropping by $19,098,489. This decline has led to the closure of a Mexican horse slaughter plant and forced several smaller U.S. kill buyers to cease operations.
Continued Decrease in Exports
Even the USDA AMS figures, often used by advocacy organizations, show a decrease of 20,449 horses shipped to Mexico in 2015. The USDA AMS Market News continues to report a decline in U.S. horses sent to Mexico, with 1,651 fewer horses reported in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
More accurate records from USDA FAS for 2016 show a 19.6% decrease in horses shipped to Mexico compared to 2015, with 3,485 fewer horses exported by March 2016.
Global Export Trends
Regarding horse meat products exported from Mexico, only Vietnam, Japan, and Russia are currently importing. While Japan's imports have increased, Vietnam's and Russia's have significantly slowed, resulting in an overall 60% decrease in horse meat exports from Mexico.
Conclusion
The EU ban has not only saved thousands of horses but also significantly impacted the horse slaughter industry in Mexico and the U.S. The number of horses shipped to Mexico has decreased substantially since the ban, and the industry has not recovered.
Animals' Angels believes the EU ban is a crucial step towards protecting horses. However, more work is needed to end horse slaughter entirely. Our investigators continue to document the cruelty of the trade and advocate for a ban on horse slaughter in Canada.
Our horses deserve better. They deserve a future. At Animals' Angels, we will never stop working on their behalf.
Originally posted by Animals' Angels