USA: The HSUS Urges USDA to Finalize Downer Ban in Light of Second Mad Cow Case

All 6 BSE-Positive Animals Identified in North America Have Been 'Downer' Cattle

The United States must permanently ban the slaughter of downed cattle to protect the food supply, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) said today in reaction to news that a second cow has tested positive for mad cow disease. Of the six cattle that have tested positive for Mad Cow disease, every one of them has been a "downer" - an animal too sick or injured to walk on his or her own.

"The downer ban put into place by the Agriculture Department at the end of December 2003 kept this sick animal out of the meat case, preventing another economic catastrophe for the cattle industry," said HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle. "The recent talk by USDA and industry officials of weakening the downer ban should end today, and a permanent downer ban should be announced immediately for the welfare of the animals and for the safety of the public."

According to reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the BSE-positive animal was a nine-year old beef cow, and she was a downer. Conflicting test results led to the additional testing, which was conducted at the urging of the USDA Office of Inspector General.

After the discovery of the BSE-positive downer in Washington State in December 2003, the USDA published an emergency rule banning the processing of downer livestock. That rule is still in effect, and a post-adoption public comment period on the rule yield 22,000 comments - 99 percent of which favored the downer ban. The vast majority of the comments also urged USDA to extend the downer ban to apply not only to cattle, but also to other livestock.

Both the House and Senate had previously voted to ban the processing of downer livestock, but lawmakers ultimately jettisoned the provisions.

Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) intend to introduce legislation soon to codify the downer cattle ban and to extend it to apply to pigs and other livestock.

The USDA has consistently announced BSE-positive test results when they hope that the rest of the country is getting ready for the weekend or a holiday, The HSUS also charged. "The USDA is making it difficult for the public to get the full story, with oddly timed press events," adds Pacelle.

Source: The HSUS Urges USDA to Finalize Downer Ban in Light of Second Mad Cow Case
Author: HSUS

Link: USDA criticized for mad cow delay


Other EVANA-articles about this topic:
USA: Humane Society Criticized in Meat Quality Scandal (en)

The Humane Society of the United States: 'Feeding dangerous cruelty to our kids in school lunches' (en)

USDA Suspends Calif. Meat Company, Bad Meat Delivered to Schools (en)

Animal lives matter, so let's stop eating them now (en)

USA: BSE cow was a downer (en)