Texas Attorney General's Opinion Results In Horse Slaughter Investigation

The last two U.S. horse slaughter facilities, both located in Texas, appear to be operating in violation of Texas law, according to an opinion issued by the Texas Attorney General, John Cornyn.

In 1949 the Texas Legislature amended the State's Agriculture Code (section 149.002), making it illegal to slaughter, possess, sell, and transport horsemeat for human consumption. Yet for 53 years the law has been ignored.

As part of its campaign to end horse slaughter for human consumption, the Animal Welfare Institute has been working with well-known Dallas Attorney Robert "Skip" Trimble on finding ways to have the State law enforced. The Texas Department of Agriculture had rejected any responsibility on the grounds the State law was superceded by federal law. Mr. Trimble did not accept that answer and with the leadership of State Representative Goolsby, the Texas Attorney General was asked to issue an opinion on enforcement of the State law.

The Attorney General's opinion states that "a person who sells horse-meat as food for human consumption or who possesses horse-meat intending to sell it as food for human consumption commits a criminal offense." The Attorney General went on to write that "a person who transfers horse-meat to a person who intends to sell it as food for human consumption or who knows or reasonably should know that the person receiving the horse-meat intends to sell it as food for human consumption commits a criminal offense."

District attorneys in both Texas counties have begun to look into enforcing the law. Kaufman County D.A., Bill Conradt, said in the Dallas Star-Telegram, "We're working on an investigation and plan to file criminal charges." Both plants have desperately begun to spin the issue by trying to twist interpretation of the existing law. The Belgium-owned slaughterhouses, known to have disliked each other in the past, have joined forces to file an injunction in the U.S. District Court hoping to stop the State law's enforcement. It would appear their legal question has no standing, but is more of a delaying tactic while they try to amend the State law in the January session of the Texas Legislature. Tarrant County D.A., Tim Curry, has said they would fight "vigorously" against the suit.

With the end in sight for America's two remaining horse slaughter facilities, the swift passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act introduced by Congresswoman Connie Morella (R-MD) is even more important. While the two plants may be forced out of Texas, they could relocate somewhere else in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. The Morella bill will prohibit this and ensure horses aren't simply shipped even greater distances across the borders for slaughter.