 Thousands of equines are currently transported across US borders to be slaughtered. The SAFE Act aims to end that practice. We caught up with Representatives Janice Schakwosky (D-IL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) to learn more about the act, its current status and why they believe it’s necessary. An estimated *80,000 to 100,000 equines are transported across US borders to Mexico or Canada for slaughter. The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, first introduced in 2013, is intended to ban both horse slaughter and exportation of slaughter-bound horses. Horse slaughter has been prohibited in the US since 2007 following a ruling from the US District Court for the District of Columbia declaring it illegal for horse slaughterhouses to pay the USDA for their own horse meat inspection, closing a loophole which allowed slaughter to continue around a federal law enacted in 2005 which defunded the inspection of horses and horse meat. Under current legislation, the prohibition on slaughter is subject to annual renewal via the appropriations process. An estimated *80,000 to 100,000 equines are transported across US borders to Mexico or Canada for slaughter. The Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, first introduced in 2013, is intended to ban both horse slaughter and exportation of slaughter-bound horses. Horse slaughter has been prohibited in the US since 2007 following a ruling from the US District Court for the District of Columbia declaring it illegal for horse slaughterhouses to pay the USDA for their own horse meat inspection, closing a loophole which allowed slaughter to continue around a federal law enacted in 2005 which defunded the inspection of horses and horse meat. Under current legislation, the prohibition on slaughter is subject to annual renewal via the appropriations process.  The current version of the SAFE Act, H.R. 961, is spearheaded by Representatives Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL). Said Buchanan, “More than 100,000 American horses are exported to Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The SAFE Act would ban both the slaughter of horses for human consumption within the United States and the export of horses to be slaughtered outside the U.S.” Schakowsky added, “The SAFE Act ensures that we don’t make equine consumption a thing here in the United States. Because horses are not raised for food, they are routinely given hundreds of drugs over their lifetimes that are prohibited by the FDA from being used in animals intended for human consumption. Those drugs, although safe for horses, have potential toxic impacts on human health if they enter the food supply. Last year, more than 80,000 American horses were transported to bordering countries for slaughter to satisfy overseas consumers. These horses often suffer long journeys without adequate food, water, or rest. Additionally, the domestic prohibition on horse slaughter for human consumption is subject to the annual appropriations process. It’s up to us to institute more lasting protections for these majestic animals and the health of people both here in the U.S. and around the world.”  When asked about the Act’s chances of being signed into law, Buchanan said, “We feel much more optimistic and have continued to garner broad support for this important bill, including nearly 200 co-sponsors in the U.S. House.” Schakowsky emphasized the act “actually has strong support on both sides of the aisle,” adding, “I believe we can get it passed this Congress.” Schakowsky mentioned the act has over 200 cosponsors with 22 being republicans, which she attributes to members of both parties recognizing “how horses have long represented the spirit and freedom of America and it’s time to protect them from treatment that opposes our nation’s values.”
The SAFE Act falls under the jurisdiction of two committees: Energy & Commerce and Agriculture. Within Energy & Commerce, it was referred to the Health Subcommittee because of its close association with the FDA. The act was also referred to the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, where, said Schakowsky, “we are working closely with Reps. Eshoo and Peterson [Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Collin Peterson (D-MN)] — the chairs of their respective subcommittees — to hold hearings on the SAFE Act and other horse issues in the upcoming session.” When asked about enforcement of the act if passed, Schakowsky said the following: “Because the SAFE Act would obtain its authority through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, it would be enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the same ways they enforce other laws and provisions. Currently, horse slaughter in the U.S. is prevented through the appropriations process. The SAFE Act is vital because it would permanently prohibit domestic horse slaughter and address the exportation of American horses to foreign countries for slaughter.” Source: Horse Nation Every second kilo of Australian beef sold in China is actually fake meat, according to multi-national auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Australian exports to China have increased 73 per cent on last year, which makes it the nations biggest export market for beef. PwC say meat fraud has soared in recent years and much of the Australian beef being sold in China is neither Australian or beef. Warwick Powell, the founder of Brisbane-based company Beefledger, told the ABC: 'It could be pork, duck breast or horse.'
Distressing footage released by the ABC in October showed healthy racehorses being brutally slaughtered amid claims the 'atrocious practice' is happening on an 'industrial scale'.
The cameras showed that in just 22 days, more than 300 racehorses, who won $5million in prize money combined, were killed. Mr Celotto said even from the property boundary, hundreds of horses can be seen unloaded and abused by workers. Shocking vision shows workers at the abattoir mistreating the horses, whipping them, kicking them and even yelling abuse at them.
Source: Daily Mail The treatment of horses transported overseas for slaughter and human consumption is at the heart of a two-day Federal Court trial which kicked off in Vancouver Wednesday. The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition claims the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is not following rules that require horses to be segregated and given ample head room during long-haul overseas flight to Japan.  The coalition is seeking a judicial review of the agency's pre-flight inspection practices along with an order that would compel the CFIA to comply with the Health of Animals Regulations in approving horse transport. "To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that an animal protection organization has challenged the Canadian federal government over the transportation of animals in Canada," coalition lawyer Rebeka Breder said in her opening statement. "This case, in my submission, can have significant implications on future government decisions and the CFIA specifically, where their ongoing practice or policy is in direct contravention to existing law." Compatibility of animals in question The coalition filed the suit last year, claiming the inspection agency is following the guidelines of an interim policy introduced in 2017, instead of the sections of the Health of Animals Regulations which govern the transport of horses. CFIA inspector-veterinarians have to ensure that all legal requirements are met before the horses can be shipped off to Asia. But Breder says the agency is side-stepping the regulations by claiming horses don't need to be segregated if they are "compatible" animals and that a horse's head or ears can touch the cargo netting above its head during air transport.  The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition says this photograph shows Belgian draft horses waiting to be shipped to Japan. The organization says the animals are being crammed into crates. In its defence, the CFIA rejects the coalition's allegations. The agency also claims that new rules set to kick in next year make the case "moot." "The CFIA's role, on the facts of this case, is to determine whether the horses are healthy for export and are being safely transported," the agency said in a filing with the court. "There is no requirement on the CFIA to obtain a particular enforcement result, and it is well recognized that perfection in enforcement can never be more than an unattainable goal. No agency above the law Breder said the animals in question are mostly large Belgian draft horses, and they require room. "We're not talking about little ponies," she said. "We're talking about big strong animals." She also claimed that while draft horses may appear compatible with each other before being shipped overseas, they may become incompatible under the stress of a long flight. The Canadian Horse Defence Coalition is dedicated to banning the slaughter of horses for human consumption in Canada and the export of live horses for the same purpose. But Breder said their aim in the Federal Court case is limited to ensuring that the horses are transported humanely. "No government agency is above the law," coalition executive director Sinnika Crosland said outside the courtroom. Crosland said her group doesn't want to see horses "crammed" into crates. "If they're going to ship them, they should put them singly in a crate," she said. "What they would need to do is make the crates high enough so the horses' heads aren't touching the ceiling, so they can comfortably raise their heads and not bang their heads or their ears up against the ceiling."
Source: CBC News |
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