This is old news for those with their finger on the pulse, however, we’ve delayed making this announcement until we could confirm further details on the potential of horses being killed for human consumption at other slaughterhouses in Australia (for domestic and export market) and details on horse meat imports.
After many months of going back and forth with Australian food regulators, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and each states individual food safety authority, we can confirm that:
1. Meramist has stopped killing horses (at least for the time being). For those unaware, Meramist slaughterhouse is in Caboolture QLD and the horror scenes of horses being slaughtered there (mostly racehorses) sent shockwaves across Australia when exposed on ABC’s 7:30 – watch here.
2. There are currently no other slaughterhouses in Australia killing horses for human consumption, neighter for the domestic or the export market.
3. The Department of Forestry and Fisheries have been unable to confirm if horse meat for human consumption is being imported into Australia (concerning in itself), however, we do know no animal flesh was imported into Australia under the import code “Meat of horses, asses, mules or hinnies, fresh, chilled or frozen” in the most recent data set.
Having said that, it is possible horse parts may have been imported under the code “Edible offal of sheep, goats, horses, asses, mules or hinnies, frozen”.
DAFF states “Horse meat is a very minor import in Australia. As a result, some of the data that the ABS publishes on horse meat is grouped with other smaller commodities.”
Sadly, this of course does not mean horses are not being slaughtered in Australia. Knackeries continue to operate across the country for the pet food market and countless healthy horses are killed out the back paddock when no longer wanted (including racehorses). Additionally, Meramist could recommence killing horses for human consumption at any time, or another operation could start elsewhere. Killing horses for human consumption remains legal.
To assist in our ongoing work with our international partners Animal Welfare Foundation – if you do see horse meat being sold for human consumption anywhere in Australia, can you please ask the seller its country of origin and report back to us.
Photo: Ruby and Thunder Tamara Kenneally Photography
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