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USDA close to approving horse slaughter plant: NYT
Story Date: 3/5/2013
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Source: MEATINGPLACE, 3/4/13
USDA could approve a horse slaughtering plant in New Mexico in the next two months that would be the first in the country to process the meat for human consumption since 2007, the New York Times reported.
A lawyer for Valley Meat Co., which would operate the plant in Roswell, N.M., told the newspaper the Justice Department indicated USDA plans to issue a grant of inspection within 60 days that would allow operations to begin. The Justice Department asked for an additional 60 days to respond to a lawsuit filed by Valley Meat last year that challenged USDA’s delay in appointing inspectors.
Valley Meat initially expects to sell its meat to European importers, according to the article.
A USDA spokesman told the newspaper several companies had asked the agency to re-establish inspection of horses for slaughter but still needed to complete necessary technical requirements. The Food Safety and Inspection Service also must complete its inspector training.
Congress in 2011 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. However, USDA never restarted inspections.
The Humane Society of the United States is among several parties that have filed briefs opposing the approval of horse slaughter facilities, raising questions about the presence of drugs in the meat, the article said. Proponents of horse slaughtering in the United States say the animals are being shipped to Mexico and Canada but could be humanely disposed of here.
For more stories, go to http://www.meatingplace.com/.
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