Agricultural News
HSUS Promotes Ballot Initiative to Make It A Crime to Sell Meat From Animals Treated "Wrong Way"
Fri, 04 Sep 2015 19:58:58 CDT
The intentions of the largest, most powerful and very extreme animal welfare organization have come sharply into focus with the introduction of a petition in the state of Massachusetts that could make it more challenging to utilizing production practices for hogs, poultry and veal not deemed proper by HSUS, if approved by a vote of the people in that state. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has filed a petition in Massachusetts that would make it unlawful for a farm owner or operator to "knowingly cause any covered animals to be confined in a cruel manner." The petition, titled "An Act to Prevent Cruelty to Farm Animals," would also make it unlawful for business owners to knowingly sell any shell eggs, whole veal meat or whole pork meat that they know to have been "confined in a cruel manner".
A coalition of groups that call themselves the Citizens for Farm Animal Protection aims to collect more than 90,000 signatures in order to qualify this animal welfare proposal for the 2016 statewide ballot.
The petition defines this as to "prevent a covered animal from lying down, standing up, fully extending the animal's limbs or turning around freely." You can read the proposal that is being considered in Massachusetts by clicking here.
For the purposes of this Act , a covered animal shall not be deemed to be "confined in a cruel manner" during:
(A) Transportation.
(B) State or county fair exhibitions, 4 - H programs, and similar exhibitions.
(C) Slaughter in accordance with any applicab le laws, rules, and regulations.
(D) Medical research.
(E) Examination, testing, individual treatment or operation for veterinary purposes, but only if performed by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(F) The five ( 5 ) day period prior to a breeding pig's expected date of giving birth , and any day that the breeding pig is nursing piglets.
(G) Temporary periods for animal husbandry purposes for no more than six ( 6) hours in any twenty-four (24) hour period.
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, said: "The biggest names in the food retail sector are already moving to buy their pork and eggs from farmers raising animals outside of small cages, and by approving this measure, Massachusetts residents will bring along the outliers and assure more humane treatment of animals raised for food."
If passed by a vote of the people in 2016, the provisions of the act would take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. If enough signatures are collected- Massachusetts would be voting on this measure even as Oklahoma voters would be considering State Question 777, the Right to Farm State Constitutional Amendment.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...
