The US Congress has lifted a ban on using Federal funds for horse meat inspection, paving the way for horses to again be slaughtered in the U.S. for human consumption. Animal rights groups are protesting the decision.
In 2006, activists, in a compromise move, had pushed a measure stopping funding for horse meat inspection in place of the outright ban they were unable to secure. Since the law requires that meat must be inspected before being used as food, horse slaughter operations were forced to shut down.
But with Congress having lifted the ban, animal rights activists are warning that horse slaughterhouses will begin springing up in the next few months. Meanwhile, USDA has said it will begin conducting the inspection of horse meat in slaughterhouses. There is no US market for the human consumption of horse meat. But it is considered a delicacy overseas in some European and Asian countries. It has, however, been used to feed North American zoo animals.