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Greetings!,

Below please find;
  • A press release from IEBA;
  • A letter from the Warm Springs Tribe of Oregon, one of a number of tribes who are writing to the President, to USDA, and to Congress about the need for humane and regulated horse processing in the United States now; and  
  • A message from the National Conference of State Legislatures to USDA based on their policy adopted unanimously in August 2012 which establishes the position of the States in regards to proposed Federal actions.

Please distribute to any and all media outlets.

Thank you,

 

sue's sig  

U.S. Chairman - International Equine Business Association

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Thursday, March 14, 2013

 

Contact:              Sue Wallis, U.S. Chair

                              307 680 8515 - [email protected]

 

                               

Humanely Produced and Scientifically Verified Safe Cheval (horse meat) Will Soon Be Available 

 

In spite of last minute attempts by animal rights extremists to slander an entire segment of animal agriculture by introducing Congressional action (S. 541 - a bill to prevent human health threats posed by the consumption of equines with others to follow...) that offers zero solution whatsoever to the dire circumstances facing the horse industry--the truth is that horse people are moving forward to provide a better future for horses and horse people. Radical groups, led by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and their supporters on Capitol Hill and inside the White House seek to destroy what vestige is left of the U.S. horse industry. Nonetheless, the Law is the Law, and right now the Law is behind the horse industry allowing us to move forward with positive, humane systems, that ensure the highest standards of verified food safety, preserving the value,  and incentivizing the proper care of all horses in the United States.  

 

Several horse processing plants in the United States are set to begin operations very soon. These plants have accomplished most or all of their required modifications to their facilities and will be requesting final walk through inspections, approval to begin operations, and the assignment of inspectors. USDA has indicated that under current law they will be providing the necessary regulation and inspection. These plants, and others that will be follow, have modified not only their physical plants to accommodate the unique characteristics of the equine species, but their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans and their Standard Operating Procedures to include extremely rigorous, thorough, and scientifically validated testing of every carcass that will ensure that no drug residue can ever enter the human food chain, and that every plant has installed humane handling systems and procedures that go above and beyond the U.S. Humane Methods of Slaughter law.  

 

There are eager markets awaiting the opening of these facilities both here in the United States and internationally. Cheval, which is the common term for meat from the equine species in the same way that beef is the term for meat from cattle, and pork is the term from hogs, is highly sought after by ethnic, gourmet, health and nutritionally interested, and value conscious consumers.   

  

Strong support nationwide for the horse industry is perhaps most evident right now in Oklahoma where a pair of pro-horse industry bills that will allow processing to begin in that state are sailing through the State Legislature. Just this past Wednesday more than 400 articulate supporters of the legislation led by the Oklahoma Farm Bureau and a host of other Ag organizations showed up for a rally at the Capitol, and not a single anti-slaughter activist! The week before a pathetic showing of anti-horse advocates at what was billed to be a "massive" rally against the bills achieved numbers barely above single digits, outnumbered by the media covering the event, illustrated the out of touch mentality of these extremist groups.    

 

Attached to this press release is a report originally produced by IEBA last Fall, the  Promise of Cheval, and updated regularly as new science and information becomes available, as well as a Facts and FAQs document that answers common questions about the ethical and responsible production of cheval.   

 

Below are documents testifying to the position of the States and the Tribes in regards to this issue--powerful entities that stand solidly behind the broader horse industry in this struggle to ensure that horses and horse owners have humane options that provide value, and therefor ensures the welfare of horses in the U.S.  

 

-END- 

 

 

Letter from Warm Springs Chairman Smith in Regards to the Failure to Consult With the Tribes in Regards to the Dire Need for Horse Processing

Note from the National Tribal Horse Coalition in regards to this and similar letters being sent - "Just a note to you to say that we have sent the Chairman Smith's letter on to voice the tribes position on horse issues we have been working on for years and the lack of tribal consultation! "

National Conference of State Legislatures - Animal Agriculture Policy Including the Need for Equine Processing and USDA Inspection

This was accompanied by a message from NCSL staff to their contact at USDA - "Given the current debate concerning horse processing, I wanted to ensure that USDA was aware and took account of NCSL's current policy (attached) on this issue. Please pass this on to the Secretary, his staff and officials at FSIS. The policy was approved by NCSL at our Legislative Summit in August 2012."


 

The International Equine Business Association is formed to serve the horse businesses and families of the World by protecting their economic, legislative, regulatory, judicial, environmental, custom and cultural interests. 
 
The Association promotes the role of the horse industry in resource stewardship, animal care, and in the production of high-quality, safe, nutritious meat, and other products. 
 
The purpose of the Association is to serve as a production agriculture association for the equine species, to mutually protect the international horse industry, and to promote the use of horses and equine products in commercial enterprises.  
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Sue Wallis, United States . Bill des Barres, Canada
Olivier Kemseke, Eurpean Union, Mexico, Argentina

 

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contact IEBA - [email protected]