Government to Ban Slaughter of Cattle Unable to Stand or Walk
WASHINGTON (AP) - The government said Thursday it will
permanently ban the slaughter of cattle for human food if they
cannot stand or walk, a possible sign of mad cow disease, but is
exempting some animals in that condition.
The Agriculture Department said the ban will be effective Oct.
1. The regulation does allow cows to be processed if they become
unable to stand or walk after their initial inspection at a plant.
The Humane Society of the United States objects to this
exception.
Allowing such animals to be processed is "cruel and does not
establish the food safety standards USDA should strive to meet,"
said the group's president and chief executive, Wayne Pacelle.
The department put interim rules in place less than three weeks
after the detection of mad cow disease, known as Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy, in an imported cow at a Mabton ranch in
December 2003.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
permanently ban the slaughter of cattle for human food if they
cannot stand or walk, a possible sign of mad cow disease, but is
exempting some animals in that condition.
The Agriculture Department said the ban will be effective Oct.
1. The regulation does allow cows to be processed if they become
unable to stand or walk after their initial inspection at a plant.
The Humane Society of the United States objects to this
exception.
Allowing such animals to be processed is "cruel and does not
establish the food safety standards USDA should strive to meet,"
said the group's president and chief executive, Wayne Pacelle.
The department put interim rules in place less than three weeks
after the detection of mad cow disease, known as Bovine Spongiform
Encephalopathy, in an imported cow at a Mabton ranch in
December 2003.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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