Federal law could derail states efforts to revive horse-meat industry

While several states, including Nebraska, work on a legal route to reopening horse processing plants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture appears to be holding firm on not allowing processed horse meat to be exported for human consumption.

“There is no possibility under the current law for a state-inspected meat plant to ship any meat, interstate or internationally, for human consumption,” said USDA spokesman Neil Gaffney.

The sponsor of the Nebraska bill (LB305), Sen. Tyson Larson of O’Neill, and the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Carlson of Holdrege aren’t buying it. Read more…