Source: MEATINGPLACE, 7/13/15

An amendment to the USDA spending bill that would have defunded inspections for horse slaughter facilities was narrowly defeated by the House appropriations committee.

The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., was defeated in a 24-24 vote, according to a report by thehill.com.
The sale of horsemeat for human consumption is banned in the United States, but the prohibition is subject to annual congressional review. There is no federal law prohibiting the transport of horses across American borders for slaughter in Canada or Mexico.

Several American companies have tried to start up horse slaughter plants in recent years but none has succeeded. However, thousands of horses are transported each year to Mexico and Canada for slaughter.

A bill that would ban horse slaughter in the United States and the export of live horses for slaughter, called the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, was introduced in Congress this spring.

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