My Comment: I can't quite understand the use of the word "majestic" in reference to horses. Is he trying to placate us by saying, in a roundabout way, that they will do the best they can? Majestic or not, they will still die and the USDA simply does not have the budget to ensure our current food supply, much less horse meat for export. Plus, his blog only means a plant license hasn't been applied for yet. He doesn't know if one is on the way, nor does he say how long the licensing period can take.

Simply put, Deputy Administrator Derfler's blog only reflects what he knew at the time he wrote it. Things might already have changed for the worse. Take a deep breath and keep calling. Ask the President for an executive order banning the slaughter and export for slaughter of American horses. Remind him of the legislation for the same that he co-sponsored as a Senator.

Call the President

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Setting the Record Straight on Congress’

Lifting of the Ban on Horse Slaughter

Posted by Phil Derfler, Deputy Administrator for Food Safety and Inspection Service,

on December 9, 2011 at 3:20 PM

There has been a lot of talk in the past week about Congress’ lifting of the ban prohibiting federal funding for the inspection of horses, which prevented the slaughter of horses for human consumption for the past five years. The issue is understandably a sensitive and emotional one for everyone who loves these majestic animals, but it is important that the discussion be tempered with the facts.

While Congress has technically lifted the ban, horse processing will not resume anytime in the near term. Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, horses are an amenable species, which means that horse meat cannot be shipped or sold for human consumption without inspection.

To date, there have been no requests that the Department initiate the authorization process for any horse processing operation in the United States. In the two states where horse processing took place prior to the Congressional ban, Illinois and Texas, there are laws in place prohibiting the slaughter of horses. Even if these laws were changed, any processing facility will still need to satisfy a significant number of requirements, such as obtaining a federal grant of inspection, conducting a hazard analysis, and developing a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan prior to the processing of any animals.