EU Bans Horsemeat Processed in Mexico

An audit from the European Union's (EU) Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) has resulted in a ban on the sale of horsemeat processed in Mexico. But one slaughter proponent doesn't believe the ban will stop the flow of horsemeat sold offshore or improve the welfare of American horses intended for processing. The FVO states that about 87% of the horses processed in Mexico originated in the United States. In its 2014 audit, the FVO raised “serious concerns” about Mexican horse processing, from vendor veracity about horses' medical and drug treatment records to the traceability of horses to a specific vendor. While horse slaughter opponents praised the ban, processing proponent David Duquette, equine program director for Protect the Harvest (an organization that counters slaughter opponents), believes the EU ban will have unintended consequences for American horses. Rather than stemming the flow of America horses to processing plants in Mexico, Duquette believes the ban will simply increase supply of horsemeat for sale in other markets. “All this means is that Mexican horsemeat won't be sold to the EU,” he opined. “Buyers can still purchase horses for processing in Mexico for the Russian and the Chinese markets, which are both much bigger markets.” He also believes the ban will have welfare consequences for American horses intended for processing in Mexico: “The (Russian and Chinese) markets don't have the same animal welfare regulations the EU has, and the ban will just eliminate all the welfare regulations the EU has. The ban will hurt the horses anti-slaughter groups are trying to help.”...more