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Nonpartisan In Depth Analysis of

Proposition 6

CRIMINAL LAW. PROHIBITION ON SLAUGHTER OF HORSES AND SALE OF HORSEMEAT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.

Initiative Statute

THE QUESTION

Should state law make the slaughter of horses for human consumption and the sale of horsemeat for human consumption illegal?

PROVISIONS

Proposition 6 would prohibit anyone from buying, selling or obtaining any horse, pony, burro or mule in California with the intent to slaughter it for human consumption. Such a violation would constitute a felony. In addition, this initiative would make the sale of horsemeat for human consumption a misdemeanor.

BACKGROUND

Businesses and eating establishments in California are currently allowed to sell horsemeat for human consumption. The Legislative Analyst does not have data to determine whether or not this market actually exists in California, but it is widely accepted that such markets do exist in Japan, France, Italy, and Belgium. It is estimated that about 100,000 horses are slaughtered every year in the U.S. to supply those foreign markets.

California is home to 750,000 horses, about 20 percent of all horses in America. State law currently permits horses to be slaughtered for both human consumption and for use in pet food. No facilities in California are now licensed to slaughter horses for human consumption; when a horse is sent out of state for slaughter, it must be reported. According to the state Department of Food and Agriculture, over 3,000 documented horses were sent from California last year to be slaughtered in other states. If unrecorded transactions are taken into consideration, some estimate that as many as 10,000 horses are being sent out of state for slaughter.

Horses sent from California for slaughter in this manner must be transported to one of the four states that have USDA-regulated horse slaughterhouses—Texas, Idaho, Nebraska or Illinois. The transport time from the horses' origins to these slaughterhouses can sometimes be over two days. It is inevitable that many horses bound for slaughter suffer from injury and dehydration during these long transports.

In 1996 Congress passed the "Safe Commercial Transportation of Horses for Slaughter Act of 1995." The act originally sought to "regulate" the treatment of horses being transported to slaughter facilities and intermediate handlers. After several amendments, however, the resulting industry "guidelines" were strongly opposed by animal protection groups, such as HorseAid and Save the Horses, who claim the bill does not go far enough to remedy present inhumane and unsafe transportation practices. Subsequently, several animal protection and horse advocacy groups have joined together in strong support of statewide initiatives such as Proposition 6, apparently attempting to bring more focused regional attention to bear on the humane treatment of horses.

FISCAL EFFECT

According to the Legislative Analyst, the fiscal impacts of this measure would be minor and would relate to "some increased law enforcement and incarceration costs at both the state and local level." Since Department of Food and Agriculture documentation is already required when sending a horse out of state for slaughter, a foundation for the enforcement of this proposition already exists.

A YES vote would prohibit the slaughter and transfer of horses for human consumption and the sale of horsemeat for human consumption in California.

A NO vote would retain the current legal status for slaughter, sales and transfer of horses and horsemeat for human consumption in California.

SUPPORTERS SAY

  • Horses are an important part of California's heritage and deserve protection from those who would slaughter them for human consumption.

  • Horses are recreational and sporting animals, not food animals; they should have the same protection against slaughter and export as dogs and cats.

  • Slaughter is not exclusive to old, sick or crippled horses; young and healthy horses, as well as wild mustangs, are being slaughtered for food.

  • Horses sold for human consumption often suffer injury in transport and a painful, prolonged death.

  • The horse slaughter industry is mostly foreign-owned, serving foreign interests—Californians don't want or need this industry.

OPPONENTS SAY

  • Californians don't need to waste time on an issue of little concern to the average citizen.

  • Horses are like livestock—owners should be able to buy and sell their animals as they see fit.

  • The horsemeat market provides a place for owners to dispose of old or unwanted horses—without this market, many horses would be cruelly abandoned and die anyway.

  • Horse slaughter for human consumption is USDA-regulated and is as safe and humane as possible.

  • People should have the right to eat horsemeat if they want.

SUPPORT AND OPPOSITION

Official ballot arguments in support are signed by Gini Richardson, Legislative Chair, California State Horsemen's Association; Michael D. Bradbury, Ventura County District Attorney; and William J. Hemby, Legislative Chair, California Organization of Police and Sheriffs (COPS).

Official ballot arguments in opposition are signed by Ted Brown, Past Chair, Libertarian Party of California; Thomas Tryon, Calaveras County Supervisor; and Joseph Farina, Attorney.

For more information:
Supporters: www.savethehorses.com, (415) 273-6070
Opponents: home.earthlink.net/~tebrown, (626) 578-8454


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Last updated: September 13, 1998
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