CRIMES WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES - gpvec

Crimes Without ConsequenCes
Audits by Dr. Temple Grandin and fast food industry find problems
with new slaughter plants, with four of five new cattle and pig plants
failing to meet stunning standards. 52
2003 Congress approves FY2003 spending bill, including a measure
directing the USDA to spend $5 million on improved enforcement of
humane slaughter law, including hiring of 50 additional inspectors to
oversee agency’s compliance. 53 In May, under harsh questioning from
Senator Byrd, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman admits no new
inspectors have been hired. 54
The food service industry Animal Welfare Audit Program begins
audits of livestock and poultry slaughter plants upon request of
individual food retailers. Fast food companies represent primary
participants in program. 55
Language included in the FY2004 spending bill directs the USDA to
continue process of hiring humane enforcement personnel. 56
2004 The USDA places regulatory ban on slaughtering of downed (nonambulatory)
cattle for human food following finding of bovine
spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or “mad cow disease”) in U.S.
dairy cow. 57 (Previous congressional attempts by animal advocates
to prohibit slaughter of downed animals on humane and food safety
grounds had failed.)
In response to a request by Congress, the U.S. Government
Accountability Office (GAO) releases a report on scope and frequency
of humane slaughter violations and USDA actions to enforce
compliance with humane handling and slaughter regulations. Report
cites incomplete record keeping, inconsistent documentation of the
nature of incidents and inconsistency in enforcement actions by the
USDA to address noncompliance. 58
52 Grandin T, 2002 restaurant audits of stunning and handling in federally inspected beef and pork slaughter
plants, no date. (http://www.grandin.com/survey/2002.restaurant.audits.html)
53 P.L. 108-7.
54 HFA and AWI, Exchange between Senator Byrd and Secretary Veneman, Senate Agriculture Appropriations
Hearing, May 2003.
55 http://www.fmi.org/animal_welfare/.
56 P.L. 108-199.
57 USDA-FSIS, Prohibition of the use of specified risk materials for human food and requirements for
the disposition of non-ambulatory disabled cattle, Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 7, January 12, 2004, pp.
1862-1874.
58 GAO, Humane Methods of Slaughter Act: USDA has addressed some problems but still faces enforcement
challenges, GAO-04-247, January 2004.
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