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H.R. 961 (116th): Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2019


The text of the bill below is as of Feb 4, 2019 (Introduced). The bill was not enacted into law.


I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 961

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 4, 2019

(for herself and Mr. Buchanan) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To prevent human health threats posed by the consumption of equines raised in the United States.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Safeguard American Food Exports Act of 2019.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that—

(1)

unlike cows, pigs, and other domesticated species, horses and other members of the equidae family are not raised for the purpose of human consumption;

(2)

equines raised in the United States are frequently treated with substances that are not approved for use in horses intended for human consumption and equine parts are therefore unsafe within the meaning of section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;

(3)

equines raised in the United States are frequently treated with drugs, including phen­yl­bu­ta­zone, acepromazine, boldenone un­dec­y­len­ate, omep­ra­zole, ketoprofen, xy­la­zine, hy­al­uron­ic acid, ni­tro­fu­ra­zone, polysulfated gly­cos­ami­no­gly­can, clenbuterol, tolazoline, and ponazuril, which are not approved for use in horses intended for human consumption and equine parts are therefore unsafe within the meaning of section 512 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; and

(4)

consuming parts of an equine raised in the United States likely poses a serious threat to human health and the public should be protected from these unsafe products.

3.

Prohibitions

Section 301 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 331) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(fff)

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section—

(1)

equine parts shall be deemed unsafe under section 409 of this Act;

(2)

equine parts shall be deemed unsafe under section 512 of this Act; and

(3)

the knowing sale or transport of equines or equine parts in interstate or foreign commerce for purposes of human consumption is hereby prohibited.

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