Safeguard American Food Exports Act proposed to ban horse slaughter

The act was proposed in response to the European horse-meat scandal and possibility of horse slaughter in America.

March 13, 2013

While Europe is in the midst of a food-safety crisis after the discovery of horse meat in a wide variety of products labeled as beef, many Americans are wondering if something like that could happen here. One major difference between Europe and the U.S. is that no horses are slaughtered on American soil, reducing the chance of contamination. However, with the current potential for new slaughterhouses opening in the U.S., a bipartisan group of legislators has introduced legislation to end the possibility of American horse slaughter once and for all.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-PA) and Rep. Jan Schakowski (D-IL) have co-sponsored the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act which would ban horse slaughter in the U.S. as well as shipping horses to other countries to be slaughtered for human consumption. On March 12, the House version was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Agriculture. The Senate version has been referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Follow the bills' progress at thomas.loc.gov (Senate version | House version) If passed and signed into law, the slaughter ban would not expire. This is a more permanent solution than the previous de facto ban that existed from 2006 through 2011 based on the agriculture appropriations that had to be renewed annually.

Members of the equestrian community are encouraged to make their voices heard on this issue. To find out how to contact your senators and representatives, visit www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml.

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Reader Comments

Debbie Mayfield, KY

4/25/2013 11:52:23 AM

Horse slaughter is a means to and end for the pro slaughter, they say we have to many abandoned and abused horses since slaughter has stopped well my goodness they seem to forget it hasn't stopped last year the number of horses going across the border was higher than ever... BREEDERS need to be more responsible and STOP over BREEDING like AQHA, since 70% of the horses being tortured are quarter horses, they hide behide the very horse they say they care about and BREED, SHAME on them all... Our Gov. gives tax deductions for their breeding business now that is an incentive to slow down right?? This slaughter is ALL about MONEY period GREED and corruption, can't even wrap my head around HOW this is still an issue to begin with, how destructive mankind can be everything we touch we kill and destroy... Stop this destruction and inhumane killing of our horses!!!!!! They DESERVE our respect to a good live and death!!! I am just so so angry that this has gone on for so long unbelievable!!

Bethany Adairsville, GA

3/30/2013 5:02:01 AM

I am a person who wants to do anything I possibly can to help end horse slaughter in America. I have even written an essay discussing why horses are different than cows, pigs, chickens, etc. Please tell me where I can send what I've written and how I can participate in the fight to stop this cruelty!

And Wally, there is no need for horse slaughterhouses. "Animals that are sick or injured", as you put it, are not even safe for consumption so your justification for slaughterhouses is invalid. Also if the horse were dangerous there are many people out there who take problem horses and rehabilitate them. Consider them the Caesar Millan horse whisperers. No horse deserves to die. They are companion animals just like your cats and dogs.

smc International

3/22/2013 5:36:18 PM

It's not for sure the ban will pass before the slaughter plant in Roswell,New Mexico murders it's first healthy, beautiful, 1000lb horse.The owner was interviewed saying they don't want sick, neglected,diseased horses, not good for bussiness. As long as exported horse meat is in high demand in Europe and Asia it's pure profit. Get healthy horses, put them in a feed lot fatten them up and walk them down to the kill shoot without remorse. The more he kills in a day the larger his bank account. It's not a question of providing a place to get rid of unwanted, old or sick horses not even a population control of wild herds, it's WHY money on the hoof. There will be horse brokers buying what ever they can get their hands on if the price is right. Running semi loads S.W. for the all mighty buck. A new breed of horse thieves will steal any thing that can be loaded. Worst thought I can picture, is people breeding brood mares to death, taking weanling to feed lots for 6mths to a year and selling them for slaughter like beef cows. With slaughter on American soil for human consumption legal what would come next. Well why export if there's a demand right here for a Quarter horse rump roast. Some body some where will demand their constitusional rights are violated if they can't buy the meat they want be available at the grogery story. All that said what have we become really? What's next, pit bull tasty bites, lab filets down isle 3. Why hell the streets and shelters are full of abandon pets.God will one day sort it all out but until then, speak out and pray, be a responsible horse owner and help support horse rescue farms.

Virginia Oviedo, FL

3/20/2013 6:47:20 AM

We must support this legislation and stop horse slaughter in America and the transport of our horses to any foreign country for slaughter. If a horse is old and sick it needs to be destroyed humanely and not sent to slaughter. Where is the responsiblity from horse owners ... stop casual breeding of horses and put your horses down humanely. Act now ... contact your Legislators and tell them to vote for SAFE.