Report and Support of an Amendment to the Federal Meat Inspection Act to Allow State Regulation of the Treatment of Livestock at Slaughterhouses

SUMMARY

The Committee on Animal Law issued a report recommending an amendment to the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), to allow state regulation of the treatment of livestock at slaughterhouses, where such state regulation is consistent with and in addition to federal laws and regulations concerning the handling of such animals. Currently States are preempted from exercising such regulation. According to the Committee, the amendment is necessary because the repeated instances of egregious non-compliance with FMIA humane handling and slaughter regulations demonstrate that existing federal law, and enforcement thereof, is inadequate to address the animal welfare and public safety issues associated with the handling and slaughter of downed animals.