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 2006 by eliminating federal funding for horse meat inspections.
While Congress reinstated this funding in 2011, the USDA has not granted any permits allowing the horse slaughter to commence, until now. Furthermore, it has been widely reported that Obama administration opposes horse slaughter and will not make room in the upcoming budget for horse meat inspections. As such, any legal horse slaughter plants will still be unable to operate.
It was also noted that two more similar permits will be issued this week, to Rains Natural Meats in Missouri and Responsible Transportation in Iowa.
For more information, read this report by the Associated Press.
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