USA: une loi pour interdire le massacre des chevaux?
Une loi devrait interdire l'abattage des chevaux pour la consommation humaine dans l'État de l'Illinois aux USA, puis, peut-être, dans l'ensemble du pays. On notera que cette décision n'est prise, outre de faibles considérations éthiques, que parce que le marché de la viande y est un secteur extrêmement faible.
Senate moves to save horses
Published May 17, 2007
SPRINGFIELD -- With the Illinois Senate's approval Wednesday of a measure that would ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption, the state is poised to force closure of the nation's last such plant - in De Kalb. The measure previously had passed the House and Gov. Rod Blagojevich's aide said he will sign the bill. The Senate vote was 39-16. The measure drew strong backing from movie star Bo Derek and animal rights groups in an effort that spanned several years in Springfield, with opponents arguing that it would eliminate an option for owners to dispose of horses that are no longer wanted or useful. As soon as the bill is signed, the DeKalb slaughterhouse "will have to shut down", said Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), the sponsor.
"These are companion animals, not livestock", Cullerton said. "Many animals lovers look upon horses like cats and dogs rather than pigs and cows." "We're absolutely thrilled", said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Society of the United States, who said the group's focus is now on legislation being considered in Congress to ban the practice nationwide, as well as the exportation of horses to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada. "The walls are closing in on the foreign-owned horse slaughter industry." Blagojevich promised Derek a quick signing of the bill while she was in Springfield to testify on behalf of the legislation earlier this year, Cullerton said. Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Chuck Hartke also supported the ban, pointing out that there is no domestic market of horse meat for human consumption and therefore no need to continue the practice in Illinois. Most horse meat is exported to Europe, where some still consider it a delicacy.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100,800 horses were slaughtered in the United States for human consumption in 2006, but the last two slaughterhouses besides DeKalb, both in Texas, shut down under a court order earlier this year. Sen. Brad Burzynski (R-Clare), whose district includes the plant, argued against the ban, saying it will create burdens for owners who have horses that are old or no longer good for riding and working. "Before, people could actually sell their animals, get some money. Now it's actually going to cost people to get them euthanized and disposed of," Burzynski said.
Burzynski also argued that the more than 40 slaughterhouse employees would lose jobs, but Cullerton said the plants in Texas resumed slaughtering other animals within weeks. Sen. Mike Jacobs (D-East Moline) also opposed the measure on the grounds it could open the door to ban the slaughter of other farm animals. James Tucker, manager of the DeKalb plant, owned by the Belgian company Cavel International, said the bill's passage "goes against all reason." A federal appeals judge had just allowed the plant tore open two weeks ago after it was chut down for a month as the result of a Humane Society lawsuit. "We're looking at alternatives," Tucker said. "We don't have a lot of options."