The new Montana law encouraging investors to build a horse slaughter plant in the US state could face legal opposition on a couple of fronts, according to an article this week in
The Horse magazine.
The bill became law recently when the Governor declined to sign or veto it 10 days after it reached his desk.
According to the article, bill HB 418, "insulates plant developers from permit and licensing challenges on environmental grounds", and awards attorney and court fees to defendants in cases District Courts deem to be harassing or without merit.
However, removing citizens' rights to sue plant developers in state courts could be challenged on constitutional grounds, said Nancy Perry, vice president of government affairs for the Humane Society of the United States.
There are also inspection issues, according to Amanda Eamich, spokeswoman for the US Department of Agriculture.
Congress has stripped the USDA's funding for horse processing plant inspections, and without federal inspections "they couldn't get the meat out of state or out of the country".
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ed Butcher, argues that because the meat processed in Montana would be destined for European markets, plant owners could use Europeans to regulate the plants and conduct inspections.
"Then inspection challenges could go to the (World Trade Organisation)," he said.
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