USDA

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US Federal Budget Leaves No Room for Horse Slaughter

United States Congress has brought the debate over the possible resumption of horse slaughter in the US to a halt, revealing that federal funding for plant inspections is not included in the Fiscal Year 2014 budget. The $1.1 trillion budget was signed by President Obama on January 17th. Without an inspection by the US Department […]
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Horse Slaughter Set to Resume in the US

A decision made on December 13th, by a US federal appeals court, could see horse slaughter resume in the US within weeks. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado has lifted a temporary injunction, which was issued November 4th, preventing the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) from conducting inspections at horse slaughter […]
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US Federal Court Issues Injunction to Prevent Horse Slaughter Inspections

A US federal appeals court issued a temporary injunction on November 4th preventing the US Department of Agriculture(USDA) from conducting inspections at would be horse slaughter facilities in New Mexico, Iowa and Missouri. The decision was made by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado, after a lawsuit filed by the Humane […]
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US Horse Slaughter Plants Update

US animal rights groups will have to post a nearly $500,000 bond if they want to continue their court battle against horse slaughter. On August 8th, a New Mexico judge ordered the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other horse protection groups to pay the bond to cover economic losses in the event […]
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US Horse Slaughter Plants Face Roadblocks in Reopening

On August 2nd, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other horse protection groups achieved a minor victory in their battle to prevent the reopening of horse slaughter plants in the US by obtaining a restraining order against New Mexico’s Valley Meat Co. The order prevents the company from commencing operations, which were […]
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USDA Green Lights New Mexico Slaughter Plant

It was announced on June 28th, that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted an application by New Mexico’s Valley Meat Co. to convert its beef processing plant into a horse slaughter house. In doing so, the company will become the first licensed to operate in this manner since Congress effectively banned horse slaughter in […]
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White House Recommends Removal of Horse Slaughter Funding in 2014

Congress could once again ban the use of federal funds to inspect horse slaughter plants in the United States if it follows the lead of the White House—a move that is strongly supported by The Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and the […]
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USDA to Increase Species Testing

In response to the European horse meat scandal, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced that they will be ramping up species sampling and testing. Inspectors will increase testing of raw and ready-to-eat meat products coming to the country from Iceland, Ireland, Poland, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. All tests of imported […]