Canada has its first Bill to ban horse slaughter!

Courtesy:

Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC)

Canada has its first Bill to ban horse slaughter!  A big thank you to NDP MP Alex Atamanenko and horse supporters everywhere for this huge, historical step toward banning horse slaughter in Canada.

Bill C-544, "An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption)", was tabled on June 16, 2010 by MP Alex Atamanenko:  http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4633655&Language=e&Mode=1 

Click on the various sub-titles on the left of the document.

On June 16, 2010, a Private Member's Bill to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption was tabled in Canadian Parliament by MP Alex Atamanenko (NDP Agriculture Critic).  The basis of the bill is the fact that horses are not food-producing animals and many are treated with drugs that are prohibited from entering the human food chain.

 

This bill is a huge step forward in the movement to abolish a cruel, archaic and unnecessary industry, and we applaud Mr. Atamanenko for his monumental initiative. 

What can horse advocates do to ensure that this bill becomes law? 

There is a process involved:  All Private Member's bills must be debated and pass three readings.  In order to move forward, a vote must take place and a bill must have the support of the majority of Members of Parliament. 

For more information on this process please click on the link below:

http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/pdf/leg_proc_canada.pdf.

While Parliament is in recess for the Summer, this is the time for horse advocates to reach out to their MP to brief them on this issue and to encourage them to support this Bill when the Fall session resumes.

Horsemeat making consumers sick

Courtesy Laura Allen

Animal Law Coalition

Will food safety concerns mean the end to slaughter of US horses? Visit this link for more info and how you can take action to urge Congress to pass HR 503/SB 727 to end the slaughter of US horses for human consumption. http://www.facebook.com/l/657ec;animals.change.org/blog/view/will_consumer_safety_concerns_end_slaughter_of_us_horses

Will Consumer Safety Concerns End Slaughter of U.S. Horses? 

The number of American horses that are slaughtered is driven by a demand in some other countries for horsemeat, where it's usually a pricey delicacy. The demand has dropped dramatically over the years from a high in 1989 of 348,400 horses to 134,059 horses slaughtered in 2008. In 2009-2010, demand has dropped even more. In Europe, in particular, demand in the past year has dropped as consumers have learned of the shocking cruelty of horse slaughter in North America.

The demand for American horsemeat may soon plummet and end altogether, especially in the European market. Indeed, the second largest grocer in Belgium and Holland pulled American horsemeat from the shelves.

But there's more good news for our horses and those calling for an end to the slaughter. Beginning July 31, 2010, the European Union will begin enforcing restrictions on the sale of meat from horses that have been given certain drugs and steroids. This means that, where horsemeat is destined for the E.U., Canadian or Mexican slaughterhouses (where U.S. horses are sent for slaughter) must obtain veterinary records of all drugs or medication provided to the horse in the preceding six months. By 2013, all horses to be slaughtered for human consumption in the E.U. must be accompanied by veterinary records from birth that show the horse has never been given banned substances.
This is impossible for American horses.

Stop the slaughter of American horses