by R.T. Fitch
New requirements give hope for U.S. Horses
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued new requirements for horse meat destined for human consumption.
“Effective July 31, 2010, it will be mandatory for all Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspected facilities in Canada engaged in the slaughter of equine for edible purposes to have complete records for all animals (domestic and imported) presented for slaughter. These records will include unique identification for each animal, a record of illness and a record of medical treatments administered to the animal for the six-month period preceding slaughter. The template entitled “Equine Information Document” (EID) shall be used by equine owners for this purpose.
A completed EID contains a standardized description of the animal or unique lot identification, as well as a comprehensive record of the equine’s medical treatment for at least the preceding six months. The various options for identification, including visual and written descriptions, are listed in the document. The document is intended to accompany the equine, at the time of ownership transfer, to the buyer of the animal. The EID requires a signed declaration by the owner of the equine as to the accuracy of the information recorded in the EID.”
There are several “show stopper” meds that are strictly forbidden but the most common is an anti-inflammatory called Phenylbutazone, or Bute which is used extensively in the U.S. for equine aches and pains. Horses who have ever been given Bute cannot be sold to slaughter under the new requirements.
Equine advocates around the world are applauding the new move that now brings the Canadian horse slaughter industry in line with the requirements of the EU where most horse meat is sold to high end dealers. Over 100,000 U.S. horses a year cross the U.S. and Candadian border to become dinner for weatlhy Europeons. It is hoped that this new requiremnt will herald the beginning of the end of importation of U.S. horses, both domestic and wild, to Canada for the sole purpose of being slaughtered for human consumption.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has listed the requirements, in detail, upon their website.
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Categories: Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Finally, a proverbial feather in our cap!
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What other meds are included? Any de-wormers or vaccinations? That would really bring the numbers down! Wonder what positions vets will take?
If I understand this document correctly, it should remove the largest number of American and Canadian horses that go to slaughter (Quarterhorses, Thoroughbreds, and Standardbreds) from the Canadian market, unless people are willing to keep them in “quarantine” for 6 months. Unfortunately, there’s still Mexico.
How could this impact our wild horses, both on the range and in government-sanctioned prisons? What about the babies slaughtered – their meat sold as “veal”?
I’m also concerned this might encourage some people to actually breed horses for slaughter, keeping them off banned substances just to meet the regulations. Maybe if they do, and they withhold required vaccinations, necessary treatment medications, and present horses full of worms, they could be charged with neglect and/or abuse, and their horses could be seized.
Don’t mean to be a downer (apologies to Craig), but whenever this kind of thing is introduced some lawyer seems to find a way around it.
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Linda, if you hit the link at the end of the story it will take you directly to the website and all of your questions will be answered.
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Thanks, R.T. I must have been having a “senior moment” when I overlooked the link!
It took me about 20 minutes to read the whole document, but it was sure worth it. I especially liked the part about their intent to strengthen regulations in the future.
One question – do Canadian Branded drugs equal American Branded drugs and those from other countries, or do the pharmaceutical descriptions make that a moot point?
In any case, meeting all those requirements will take a lot of time and effort on the part of individuals who intend to send horses and other equines to slaughter in Canada.
Our neighbors to the north have led the way. Do U.S. lawmakers, the “leaders of the free world”, want to be seen as trumped and left in the dust?
AMAZING! WHAT A GIANT STEP FOR PROTECTING HORSES!
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The CFIA is doing this because they are being forced to, not because they care about the horses or the humans eating them. Canada has been slaughtering horses for human consumption for as long as the US and there is no way the CFIA wasn’t aware of the medications in them. I don’t understand how they got away with it for as long as they did.
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Overall it is the EU requirements that are forcing the Canadian regulations. Outside of Japan, Europe is the leading consumer of high priced horse flesh.
But I am pleased to say that while Terry and I were in Spain, Italy and France this past November we found no horse meat in small local markets…again, we checked local markets as we were off from the beaten path.
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I’d heard that horse meat consumption was way down in France. Guess it’s true, huh? And those other countries as well – great news.
We TOLD ’em this was comin’…..
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The demand went way down. Not so dumb Europeans, huh? mar
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Just like anywhere, Mar. Assumptions are made – if it’s ‘some’ Europeans, then it must be ‘all’ Europeans.
We appreciate any support we can muster. I apologize, Roxy and Monika, if it seems like this is directed at you.
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Look at your horse “stuff.” Anything that has on the label: “Not for use on horses intended for human consumption” will remove a horse permanently from the food chain.
Chris IS right. They’re doing it because the EU – finally! – realized they were eating contaminated meat from American horses. Those warning labels have been there AT LEAST since 1977 when I got my first horse and wondered, “What the heck.” I was so naive I didn’t know ANY horses were INTENDED to be human food.
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Terry this is indeed good news, but what about the 6 months preceding their requirements, will they have tests in place for things like Bute which are banned if they have ever been given to a horse?
Mexico is going to be a harder task but then they probably dont care for their local market but if they want to export they will probably have to provide the same records, so this is a definite positive and will sure slow them down a LOT.
With luck the people who are consuming this meat will meet their demise from these drugs which they should not be consuming but are present in the horses, or maybe that is why they are all so crazy, it is affecting the small pea sized brains that they have already.
Linda unfortunately this is already happening I suspect. This is a step in the right direction and after yesterday it is leaving me with a bit of fight in me agauin.
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There are currently horse meat farms in Canada. They ship these horses live to Japan where they are slaughtered and eaten raw within 3 days.
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There are also horse meat farms all over Europe already (Several YouTubes about this), they will just increase their own production.
But at least for UK – they have a YouTUbe, while I’m not condoning it (really, I don’t impose my beliefs in what should be eaten or not on other cultures in other countries as long as they leave our wild horses alone. Domestic horse fate is on the backs of the breeders as far as I’m concerned, just my personal opinion – stop breeding – stop slaughter), compared to what HSUS and other undercover YouTubes about USA & Mexico does, is a sweet walk in the park for the horses – not at all like we treat them here in slaughter plants – America the not always so beautiful.
Actually, I don’t think I’ve found any dirt on Canadian slaughter plants – I’ll look further into that.
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You need to look into their (CAN) recent outbreaks that were traced back to plants that mixed species, but cattle were the main source. Thought I remember something about how the identified plants also did horsemeat
And Natural Valley was shut down for numerous violations. It was hyped and funded as a cattle processing plant and went 100% to equines. Google Natural Valley Farms (SAK, ALB?).
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Found Natural Valley Farms on Madeliene Pickens site – they had several violations and were shut down. Canada being one of the largest suppliers of horse meat world wide,
HS I/C sites all the same inhumane activities in Canada as we have seen in USA and Mexico.
Again, knowing already that the slaughter houses by pass humane slaughter laws, how can Europeans or Asian people think that this drug ban thing is going to work! What a Crock! Looks good on paper ONLY.
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I agree Roxy. I will never eat horse meat, but if the Europeans want to have farms strictly for horse meat, well bon apetit to them. I’m from Ontario, Canada and only found out recently that horse meat is available here. I have never seen it offered anywhere! I saw one UK slaughter house video on the internet… nothing like here in Canada. I don’t believe that slaughter houses here are more humane than in the States, we just don’t have the people going in to secretly video tape the truth. Just look at the seal slaughter to get an idea of what our politicians consider humane. Plus of Minister of Agriculture, Gerry Ritz, will not ban the import of dog and cat fur because it may hurt the seal fur trade.
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I am far from an expert on any of this, but here’s a YouTube:
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Check here for the lowdown on Canadian slaughter houses
http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/Home.html
Horrible! Just like ours. Check here what WE were doing before they were shut down: http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/foia.htm
GRAPHIC CONTENT!
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Roxy, I agree with most of what you say, especially about overbreeding. But our domestic horses also need protection. A horse’s life is a horse’s life, and I feel we must work hard to protect them all.
At our rescue, we’ve taken in a number of slaughter-bound horses – several PMU mares (pregnant),PMU weanlings, and others.
We keep tabs on them, but after their adoption trial period they become the property of their new owner.
A few have changed hands without our knowledge. It would be a tragedy if any of them ended up at the sale barn.
We’ve discussed freeze-branding, although we haven’t done it yet.
I’ve come up with a pretty unique design. Our local livestock inspectors say they’ve never seen anything like it in their brand books, and would recognize it immediately and contact us.
It identifies the horse as a rescue, and also which rescue it originally came from.
I’d like to make the design available for free to any rescue that might be interested. It’s easy for you to personalize, and could prevent your horses from falling into the wrong hands.
I’ll have to work out the logistics for a download, since I don’t have a personal presence on the Web.
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What concerns me is WHO warrants authenticity of medical/drug facts declared on the EID. Since it seems to be solely up to the equine’s owner to fill the form out, and the sole inspection of such forms is up to the “operator” of said establishment… it concerns me that no higher authority such as a vet has to sign off the forms – meaning any non-scrupulous equine owner could fill out any way he wants to get his horse slaughtered – do they inspect ? I doubt it. This from the CFIA website: Q15 Who will be responsible for checking the EIDs before slaughter?
A15 The primary responsibility for compliance to requirements in slaughter facilities inspected by the CFIA remains with the operator of the establishment. The establishment operator will be required to ensure each equine presented for slaughter has a complete and acceptable EID covering at least a six month consecutive time period before slaughter. The CFIA will oversee the effectiveness of the operator’s ante mortem review procedures with respect to the EID.
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Our wild ones will need the protection of a halt to transport. They are still the prime targets of people like Slaughter Sue. Regulation without enforcement just creates deceptive practices that people will learn. When we first heard about this it was implied the drivers of the trucks hauling the horses were the ones who must deliver paperwork that the horses are chemical free. If we see holes in this now surely there will be holes as this is put in place. Change may come but slowly. mar
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The BLM knows which ones it’s contaminated with PZP and bute. If it does not certify this, won’t they be complicit in fraud and contaminated meat?
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Although it’s not listed, being an experimental drug, PZP is also forbidden because it’s a known carcinogen in humans. With that and Bute, the Mustang Meat isn’t “clean” either. Sorry, Sue.
I’ve also read that ivermectin and moxidectin are forbidden. Are those not sold in Canada?
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That is why we have heard about the loads of geldings going to Mexico. It would be real progress to stop this. mar
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Reading the Introduction I find: “administered to the animal for the six-month period preceding slaughter”
So all this means is the horse must be clean for 6 months?
Anyway, if the French, Italians, or others believe that any of this will actualy be enforced – they really have already eaten too much of this stuff and have real brain disfunction already.
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6 months for certain “essential veterinary drugs,” forever for forbidden drugs like bute.
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Suzanne, thanks, I did go back and caught that. I think I remember some of those drugs can be tested for a long time after administration and will show up on a tox screen? I’m sure Europe will be doing some of that testing too.
I’m curious why no mention of Mexico? Do those horses not go to Europe?
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Sorry, I think they started getting investigations, running at a loss and in face of litigation declared bankruptcy. I think the CAN taxpayer was left hold a very large pile of not only difficult waste, but also bad loans.
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They were also convicted of illegal dumping of horse blood and body parts.
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I wonder what NAFTA could play into this CFIA decision? USDA ain’t gonna do squat, but if we in the US have trade agreements I would think some type of effort on the US part would be mandated…good faith thing.
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R.T. and Terry, I found this PDF document just last night – FOIA request to the BLM from The Conquistador Equine Rescue and Advocacy Program, dated May 13, 2009. Please page down to “Reno Rendering Plant”. It appears the BLM is still slaughtering our wild horses illegally (this does not surprise me) but a rendering plant in Reno?! Do you know anything about this? Deb
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Click to access BLM.Team.Euth.FOIA_Cover.letter.pdf
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This is a document we all heard about a couple months back. It is a chilling read. mar
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It is chilling and though not surprising, it brought me to tears. I was unsure if the document had made the rounds being relatively recent – and my being the “new kid on the blog”, I felt it important to bring to R.T. and Terry’s attention. Over the years I have forwarded my findings to AWHPC, Deanne, and my local contacts, sometimes with small albeit positive results. Thanks for acknowledging my post, Marilyn. For the love of the horses, Deb
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Deborah, , It is one thing to hear about something and another to finally read it. There are several things in here that are just horrible (plus all the bad spelling). I am glad you put it up so we can use it as a reference. At this point there is a need for us to have all the ammunition possible. The more we know the more we notice and can use.
mar
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Oh dear God, look at this – pg.13 of the PDF I posted, From Don Glenn:
“Sally had an email from a person in Canada who wants 10,000 horses that he would slaughter and send them to a third world country. Don is going to send the email.” Maybe this is one reason for change in Canadian Regulations?
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This doc is not new. I saw it some time ago somewhere – even saved the pdf. Oh yeah – it was on Animal Law Coalition from John Holland.
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The ONLY reason Canada changed their regs is because the EU – which has had these regulations all along – must have suddenly realized the in the US we didn’t! I guess they gave first warning that they were going to start enforcing the rules last year. If you had a horse you wanted to export for slaughter, your quarantine would have to start NOW.
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Ok. I am European. I find the comments on dumb Europeans pretty sad. I grew up in Switzerland where the most popular meat is pork. The Swiss make some amazing sausages and many of the pigs have a wonderful live on farms that look like out of a fairy tale book. There is not the scale of huge exploitative industries as are here – it’s all much smaller and family farms. The pigs run around free outside in lush meadows – and most cows spend their lives in scenery that takes your breath away. I never saw horse meat nor ate horse meat when I grew up. The only imported meat I saw were T-Bone Beef steaks from Australia or USA. Europe is a big place, with very individual and distinct countries. Many meat markets there are small operated family businesses who work with local farmers. Where I grew up it’s not the scale of exploitative ag industries as they exist here. So I may be a European, but I don’t eat meat and I fight for the American Mustangs with all my heart – and not all Europeans eat horse meat – just a thought.
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Your right, and again I did not say what I intended – was makig a point, stupid one on my part, that those Europeans or Japanese that eat horse meat think this will be enforced any better than anything else is enforced in America, “those” horse eaters have already had too much bute.
I am trying to get EU skeptical of USA horse meat – thinking twice – just because there is a new law, doesn’t necessarily mean squat.
I did not intent to indicate that all Europeans are anything in particular. I’m almost entirely European decent, in my case foot in mouth fits fairly regularly.
Its obviouse from the UK YouTube and the EU YouTubes about inhumane horse slaughter that the animals there are treated with upmost respect all the way around – some in UK think their slaughter plants are horrible, and I’m sure there are some abuses, but overall pretty nice, especially compared to here.
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I just want to jump in with Monika, for a second. (She is our Swiss Secret Weapon).
Culturally, we should show a degree of tolerance. We now live in a global community. I, for one, am in Europe every several weeks (will be in Germany on Thursday) and spend weeks on end in Africa. While gone I see and/or work with few Americans so my perspective is a little different than most Texans.
People hold on to what they grow up with, it gives them comfort. If someone on the other side of the ocean eats horse meat it is usually not an act of violence but one of normality. Trust me, they know little to nothing of the cruelty involved with the trade and once it is explained to them they are horrified.
All of us come to this podium with varied backgrounds. I know that you see me rant and rave about the likes of Sue Wallis and Ed Butcher so a brief talk on tolerance might seem out of place. But they should know better, our worldwide community does not have the educational options that those types possess.
As stated earlier, I will be leaving the U.S., again, this week and on Friday I will find myself in the Angolan province of Cabinda. My heart will break as I ride the bus through the villages to our camp and observe the abject poverty of people who do not know any different. I will see women fill buckets of drinking water from communal wells while the village boys pee down the well as the buckets are coming up. I will see a stream filled with women washing clothes on the rocks while men defecate in the water upstream…and there are no horses there, they were killed and eaten long ago. There are no elephants left because they could not survive the target practice and poaching from the civil war…I see it all. So if a European eats horse meat, it does not mean that he/she is heartless…it only means that they are who and what their environment has dictated that they should be.
It’s our job to help spread the word, the message and trust me, there’s a lot of really fine people who live beyond our U.S. borders and I think that all of us could benefit from them being our friends, versus being our advisories.
I step off the box, now, and pray that all of you keep the faith.
You are all some very, very special people and it is a privilege and honor to know you.
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Ok, here’s my plan: we get about 500 people across the nation, send ’em to the hardware store. Buy about 600 gallons of Bute. Now, Bute smells terrible – really garlicky – but that’s how we’ll know – and every Equine, Wild, Captive Wild or Domestic in the US – gets a Bute Brand!
It isn’t rocket science or particularly mature but What The Heck. At this juncture I’d jumpstart a research project that states that senseless or for-profit abuse of an equine causes cancer!
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One more thing – that very Official Document in the PDF: is it just me or did it appear to have been drafted by a 10 year old? (Spaded!? Really?) It’s a little discouraging when you’re trying to pose an intellectual argument and your contending with a person who apparently bypassed High School English.
I’m just sayin’…
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It’s not just you, Lisa. The grammatical errors in this document jumped out at me also …”Spaded” in particular.
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Lisa, not at all, well taken. I’ve said the same thing about BLM, “the government” – its not all BLM and DOI, its not all the government – but there is a shared responsibility. Are all USA citizens war mongers? Well, some might think so, as bombs are falling all around them, but no, not all, but we all share a part of the responsibility of what the USA does.
Anyway I don’t care if some of EU or some of Japan eats horse meat, as long as it is not American wild horse meat, and obvioulsy there is that market, or we wouldn’t be in this post and talking about it.
We had the same conversation about cowboys, calling them wrangless today, there are good ones and there are bad ones, there are good ones doing bad things, and there are bad ones doing good things, but in the end it will be the perception in general – of the “wrangler” horse expert trying to make a wild horse with a broken back stand up or having to be told that a mare needs help after an aborted fetus.
Just like BLM and the ones that want to slaughter horses think of us in general, “horse advocates” all lumped together with other groups we don’t have anything to do with, but there are individuals in those groups that support our common cause. Yet we are all individuals – difference is for BLM/DOI, in general, we are right and they are wrong – had to throw that in.
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There are many Canadians who would love to force Canada out of the horse slaughter business too. That link I posted above was to one of their sites that I frequent. Horse slaughter is a VERY nasty business, and the Canadians are just as aware of that as we are – maybe more so since they have more slaughter houses.
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i wonder if this is an opportunity to put some pressure on vet orgs (AAEP and AVMA) to now support the horse slaughter legislation. A vet knows our horses have these banned substances (bute etc.) so how can they not support an end to slaughter, even on a simply ethical basis ? i am going to explore this for sure.
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FINALLY PEOPLE ARE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS CRUEL ACT. I donèt understand why people feel the need to slaughter these beautiful animals.
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Anyone who eats meat should be concerned about how it has been treated. The saying ‘You are what you eat’ is very true. Horses who are taken for slaughter suffer fear and trauma during transportation and at the point of slaughter. Also owners who sell their animals for live transport in terrible conditions, will not have fed them well or cared for them well so those who eat horses are often eating diseased, badly treated animals. Personally I find the idea of eating horses unacceptable, and the idea that people are able to indulge their depraved appetites is revolting. If people cannot give up this disgusting practice the least that can be done is to ensure that horses and other animals do not suffer before dying to feed the ‘gourmands’
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