❓ A parliamentary question regarding the licensing and regulation of horse meat sales in Western Australia, focusing on screening processes, animal welfare, and worker safety during slaughter.
AnsweredQoN 3688Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
This question is in relation to the Minister granting a license for the sale of fresh horse meat in Western Australia. Whilst I acknowledge the attachment of strict conditions including the presence of a Western Australian Meat Industry Authority inspector during processing, I ask:
(a) can the Minister advise what screening processes are involved in the slaughter of horses;
(b) are blood tests done prior to the slaughter of the animal; and
(i) if not, why not; and
(ii) if so:
(A) do the blood tests rule out the presence of all equine diseases;
(B) do the blood tests identify all drugs or medication the animal has ingested; and
(C) can the blood test confirm whether the animal is fit for human consumption;
(c) how is medication ingested by the horse prior to slaughter tracked;
(d) what technique is used to slaughter the animal;
(e) what evidence can the Minister provide to demonstrate that the method of slaughter is proven to be humane;
(f) do abattoir workers perform their duties any differently when slaughtering horses than they would when slaughtering cows, sheep and goats; and
(i) if so, have any occupational safety and health measures been implemented to reflect the different work method used to ensure the safety of the abattoir worker from disease?
(a) can the Minister advise what screening processes are involved in the slaughter of horses;
(b) are blood tests done prior to the slaughter of the animal; and
(i) if not, why not; and
(ii) if so:
(A) do the blood tests rule out the presence of all equine diseases;
(B) do the blood tests identify all drugs or medication the animal has ingested; and
(C) can the blood test confirm whether the animal is fit for human consumption;
(c) how is medication ingested by the horse prior to slaughter tracked;
(d) what technique is used to slaughter the animal;
(e) what evidence can the Minister provide to demonstrate that the method of slaughter is proven to be humane;
(f) do abattoir workers perform their duties any differently when slaughtering horses than they would when slaughtering cows, sheep and goats; and
(i) if so, have any occupational safety and health measures been implemented to reflect the different work method used to ensure the safety of the abattoir worker from disease?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 September 2010
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
29 days
Department of Agriculture and Food
(a) A declaration is required to identify the treatments the horse had been exposed to prior to consignment. Further, an agistment period of 4 weeks is required on an approved Authority facility prior to slaughter.
(b) No
(i) This is not standard practice in Australia in the case where horses are slaughtered for human consumption.
(ii) Not applicable
(c) Refer to (a).
(d) Invasive stun (by high powered captive bolt designed specifically for horses) followed immediately by cutting/severing the jugular vein to desanguinate (bleed-out) the animal.
(e) This is the standard practice used by all abattoirs in Australia slaughtering horses for human consumption.
(f) No
(i) Not applicable
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(a) A declaration is required to identify the treatments the horse had been exposed to prior to consignment. Further, an agistment period of 4 weeks is required on an approved Authority facility prior to slaughter.
(b) No
(i) This is not standard practice in Australia in the case where horses are slaughtered for human consumption.
(ii) Not applicable
(c) Refer to (a).
(d) Invasive stun (by high powered captive bolt designed specifically for horses) followed immediately by cutting/severing the jugular vein to desanguinate (bleed-out) the animal.
(e) This is the standard practice used by all abattoirs in Australia slaughtering horses for human consumption.
(f) No
(i) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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