BILL NUMBER: S2163B
SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to prohib-
iting the slaughtering of horses for human or animal consumption
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To amend the Agriculture and Markets Law by adding a new section 385, to
prohibit the slaughtering of horses for human or animal consumption.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The Agriculture and Markets Law shall be amended by adding a
new section 385. This section will make it unlawful to slaughter a horse
for human or animal consumption. The term "horse" includes all members
of the equine family, including horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, asses,
and burros. The term horse flesh means any part of the horse's body. A
violation of this law will be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not
more than one thousand dollars per horse for an individual perscn, and
up to $2,500 per horse for a corporation, association, or other entity
for the first violation. Subsequent violations increase to up to $2,000
or $5,000 per horse, respectively.
Section 2: This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day
after it shall have become a law.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
104,899 horses were slaughtered in the United States during 2006, the
last full year of horse slaughtering in the US, according to the Govern-
ment Accountability Office. In 2007, after Congressional approval of an
appropriations bill that included a rider prohibiting the USDA from
financing the inspection of horse meat, all US horse slaughter facili-
ties closed. From 2006 through 2010, US horse for slaughter exports to
Canada increased by 148%. In 2010, 137,984 horses were exported to Cana-
da for slaughter. The vast majority of these horses are being slaugh-
tered for human consumption abroad, mainly in Europe and Japan. In 2011,
that 2007 rider was removed by Congress in an omnibus spending act. The
door has potentially been re-opened for horse slaughter within the
United States as a horse meat plant ih New Mexico nears approval in
2013.
Pet horses, workhorses, racehorses and even wild horses go to slaughter.
Most arrive at the slaughterhouse via livestock auctions where, often
unknown to the seller, they are bought by middlemen working for the
slaughter plants. These so-called "killer buyers" travel from one
auction to the next collecting young, old, sick and healthy animals
until their trucks are full. Some are shipped for more than 24 hours at
a time without food, water or rest, and suffer horribly along the way.
The callous treatment of horses at the slaughterhouse often results in
their prolonged suffering. Panicked horses are prodded and beaten off
the truck and into the kill-chute. The improper use of stunning equip-
ment, designed to render the animal unconscious with a swift shot to the
head, means that horses sometimes endure repeated blows and remain
conscious during their own slaughter. This bill would prohibit any ,
person from slaughtering a horse where such person knows or has reason
to know that such horse will be used for human or animal consumption.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S5875 Referred to Agriculture
2019-20: S5983B Referred to Agriculture
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it
shall have become a law.