Legislation introduced in Illinois to ban horse slaughter for human consumption

11/10/03

Representative Robert S. Molaro (D) of the 21st District introduced the Horse Meat-Human Consumption bill (HB3845) in October in response to the planned reopening of Cavel International's horse slaughtering plant in DeKalb, Illinois. The following is a synopsis of the bill:

Amends the Illinois Horse Meat Act. Provides that it is unlawful for any person to (i) slaughter a horse, (ii) possess, import into or export from the State, or sell, buy, give away, hold, or accept any horse meat, or (iii) possess, import into or export from the State, or sell, buy, give away, hold, or accept any horse with the intent of slaughtering that horse if that person knows or should know that any of the horse meat will be used for human consumption. Amends the Animals Intended for Food Act and the Humane Slaughter of Livestock Act to make corresponding changes. Effective immediately.

Attached to Agriculture-Tech bill (SB1921) as an amendment, the legislation has passed from Rules and will be heard by the Executive Committee on Tuesday, November 18, 2003.

To contact your representative, go to http://www.ilga.gov/.