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AHC WASHINGTON UPDATE
On October 8, 2009, the
Senate passed the final version of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food
and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010
(H.R.2997). The House of Representatives approved the bill the
previous day. This bill provides funding for the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA) for fiscal year 2010 and contains two provisions
of interest to the horse industry.
GAO Study of Horse Welfare
The conference agreement accompanying this bill directs the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) to study the status of horse welfare as it
relates to the closing of horse slaughter plants in the United States.
The agreement requests the GAO to issue a report by March 1, 2010, on
the current state of horse welfare in the US since horse slaughter
facilities were closed. The GAO is instructed to consider how the
horse industry has responded to the plant closings in terms of horse
sales, exports, adoptions, and abandonments. In addition the GAO
is instructed to review the impact the closures have had on farm income
and state and local government organizations.
USDA Inspection at Plants
The bill also contains a provision prohibiting any funds from being
used by the USDA to inspect horse meat for human consumption.
While there are currently no plants operating in the in the United
States that process horses for human consumption, this bill
effectively bars any such plant from operating in the U.S.
for fiscal year 2010.
This bill will now proceed to the President for his approval, which is
expected.
If you have any questions regarding this bill please call the AHC.
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