All horse slaughter closed down in Mexico and Canada today

So how do you explain that to the farmers who all lose their income, land and homes that they have had for generations and work bloody hard to do that? The costs of unemployment and NHS care is already a huge problem without adding to it to benefit the US and heaven help us if there was another war or disaster that might suddenly disconnect reliant countries from its food supply - its was a serious problem in WW2 with a smaller population and more available farm land
Is it even ethical that a few countries should be able to control something as vital as food? I don't think so
Part of the thinking behind the EU was to combine the resources of several small but already influential and wealthy countries into one that was a much greater force to be reckoned with as far as global economy is concerned
A lot of people in the UK do resent it as some of the laws and rules are getting out of control but it also has its advantages and has paid for a huge amount of regeneration
BSMS I would imagine that eradicating FMD was much less of a problem back in the 1920's in the US where livestock was even more spread out and isolated than it is now and keeping it that way is all down to controlling what comes in. In the UK where stock is so much closer together tracking one animal from where its identified and what its been in contact with can mean the difference between slaughtering a few herds and slaughtering hundreds. It isn't just affected animals that get slaughtered its anything they've been in contact with
Much the same as we don't have rabies in the UK

Jaydee I see your point and one that I can understand.
Though I live 100 miles from Dallas the Metroplex is growing toward my families land every day. 20 years ago the land was 500- 800 an acre now when the value of land goes up so do our taxes and to be able to afford the future ones neither my brother or I recieve any income form the profit.
We want to be able to ensure our daughters have a chance to enjoy their ancestoral home. One that has been in my family for over 170 years.
Part of the protectionism shown by the EU and other countries is political.
However Great Britian with its common wealth nations would emerge as a powerful player. Austrailia, and Canada caould gratly improve their exports. Shalom

I'm afraid that everything is about money and politics and we are all just pawns in that game
The land that my grt grandfather, grandfather and father farmed in the UK is now one huge housing complex with industrial and retail centres between. Same goes for that of my husbands family. Villages that once had distance between them and identities are now joined together and mostly only wealthy people can afford to live in them if they have any 'chocolate box' appeal
We moved here from one of the few villages but any rural land that ever came on the market was quickly snapped up by someone looking ahead to when it might become open for building at ridiculous prices and then either rented out or it sits empty while it waits. The narrow country roads & lanes we should be able to ride safely along are a hazard with cars commuting between places driven by people with no regard for country life at all.
If farmers lost what livelihood they cling on to all of this would soon be gone or preserved by government as some sort of national park type property for tourist appeal. Its bad enough as it is with all the interference from the over the top greenie brigade that move in and complain about smells and mud on the roads
The only restriction on Australian beef into the EU is that it has to come from certified non hormone stock so must have documentation to support that. I don't think there is any restriction on Australian beef imports in to the US

Here are a couple of key points that I've gotten from this discussion in the last few pages:

#1 EU protects their economy my strictly controlling imports and exports.

As one poster said, "The governments have a responsibility to their people FIRST."

We need to adopt their restrictions and take care of OUR people first.

#2 We need to embrace the EU's restrictions on horse meat.

Actually, I don't have a problem with that at all. That will create or bring out of the closet, the horse meat industry where horses are raised strictly to be eaten. Once that is done, and the ranchers band together, and start a "certified Quality Horsemeat" program, prices will triple, more people can have jobs and horses will be worth something again.

Think about it, we could create a market for horse like there is for Blue Fin Tuna...

In my home state of South Dakota that is true but in Minnesota you have to take a knowledge test but they are very stringent. Thought about moving there at one point :)
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/for...ewResident.pdf

Dreamcatcher the US is the driving force behind the worlds economy.
We consume far more than we manufacture. If we stopped importing or had the same restrictions as the EU and other countries they would have dire consequences for most developing countries.
We also use our economic might as a powerful political tool to bend others to our way of thinking. Shalom

That was my point, exactly.

Actually if the US and Europe stopped having so much stuff manufactured cheaply in places like China (which is rapidly becoming one of the most wealthy and powerful nations) we wouldnt have such high unemployement figures. You can buy really cheap stuff from these sources but you can also buy really expensive stuff made in exactly the same places so some make way more profit out of it than others.
Off thread there ^^^^
Shutting the door on US originated slaughtered horses that are not actually certified as fit for human consumption into Europe might be a good thing in the long term
It would force the US to get its own slaughter yards up and running again
Put an end to the sort of irresponsible breeding that's sending these horses there as only certified safe for consumption stock would be worth anything in that market
Make people more responsible for unwanted horses as throwing them in an auction would no longer be profitable
Make people who want to breed horses for meat get in the same line in terms of controls as 'normal' livestock meat producers. In France & Italy etc these are normally heavy draft breeds not riding horse types
Having less rubbish on the market would eventually increase the prices of good quality horses.

A press release today:



16 Oct 2012 ... Last Friday the Equine Welfare Alliance distributed a media release claiming "US horses are no longer being accepted by Canadian horse slaughter plants." Since then HWAC has been working with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) to clarify the issue.

Today we received an email from AAFC confirming that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has not changed its policies and directives regarding the entry of US horses intended for slaughter, nor were any instructions provided to CFIA operational staff or industry to refuse the entry of US horses intended for slaughter into Canada.

The AAFC resprentative stated, "While I cannot speak for decisions made by the industry, I understand that the information you learned of may have been prompted by a shipment of Canadian meat derived from US horses which was temporarily held at a port of entry in France. With the support of the Canadian Missions in France and the European Union, the CFIA contacted its regulatory counterpart, the European Union Directorate General for Health and Consumers (SANCO) to request the release of the shipment based on the existing arrangements agreed by both sides that allow Canadian horsemeat into the EU. Consequently, French authorities have revisited their actions and once again permit access for these products."

We understand there may be a requirement to amend the current export certificate, but at this time, CFIA officials have not been formally notified.
HWAC continues to work with AAFC and CFIA and will provide additional information as it becomes available.

Interesting. So this was all a ripple effect from a shipment being held in France. It makes sense that we turned U.S. Horses away then, if we were facing the possibility of not being able to sell the meat from U.S. Sources to one of our largest importers.

Unfortunately I think this is a sign of things to come - the EU is tightening its standards and Canada is trying to keep up, it helps that we have a domestic market for horse meat to support that improvement. I hope we keep improving, with the passport system we already have established through Equine Canada it shouldn't be too much of a stretch. I'm not one for increased regulation but having that kind of history on any horse you acquire would have a LOT of benefits.

Since the U.S. Does not have a horse meat industry, there's not incentive to meet the EU's standards on horse meat. Our processors will eventually have to stop accepting undocumented horses, and American slaughter-bound horses will remain an American responsibility.