Farmed Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place

November 15, 2001                                                     (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #41

CONTENTS

1. USDA Sued to Prevent "Downed" Animals from Being Used as Food
2. "Downed" Animal Protection Amendment to Be Introduced in Senate
3. Oklahoma Cockfighting Petition Clears Way for Vote
4. Conditions to Improve for EU Pigs
5. USDA Web Site on WTO Agricultural Negotiations
6. Pig Production Virtual Conference
7. Veal Industry Launches Marketing Campaign
8. Dairy Industry Launches Confidence Campaign
9. Making Veganism Easier During Thanksgiving and Every Day


1. USDA SUED TO PREVENT "DOWNED" ANIMALS FROM BEING USED AS FOOD
Farm Sanctuary filed suit against the USDA to prohibit nonambulatory
animals from being marketed as food. The animal protection organization
cites human health hazards and animal cruelty as the basis for the suit.
Interstate commerce of adulterated food, including material from diseased
animals, is prohibited in interstate commerce under the Federal Food, Drug
and Cosmetics Act. Animals who cannot stand or walk normally are included
in the Federal Meat Inspection Act definition of diseased animals. Farm
Sanctuary argues that the USDA should comply with these laws and ban
nonambulatory animals from being processed into food. McDonald's, Burger
King and Wendy's have banned meat from nonambulatory animals from being
used in their products. Additionally, the USDA announced last year that it
would no longer purchase ground beef containing meat from nonambulatory
animals for federal food programs. Farm Sanctuary is joined in the suit by
a Fordham University professor who is a meat consumer and concerned
citizen. Farm Sanctuary has already petitioned the USDA and the FDA for the
same purpose.

"Non-Profit Farm Sanctuary Files Lawsuit Against USDA to Prohibit Slaughter
of 'Downed' Animals for Human Consumption," PRNewswire, November 14, 2001.
http://www.prnewswire.com
"Help Stop the Downed Animal Trade," Petition to Ban Downed Animal
Slaughter, Farm Sanctuary.
http://www.nodowners.org/index_federal.htm


2. "DOWNED" ANIMAL PROTECTION AMENDMENT TO BE INTRODUCED IN SENATE
A "downed" animal amendment is expected to be attached to the Senate farm
bill, possibly as soon as this week. Proponents of the amendment which
passed the House are attempting to get identical language passed in the
Senate in order to avoid a conference committee favorable to agricultural
interests. (See issues #38 and #40.) The Humane Farming Association (HFA)
has issued an alert recapping what it finds to be problematic in the House
amendment and warning against such an amendment in the Senate. In
this,  its 3rd alert, HFA primarily focuses on penalty provisions. HFA
argues that, in order for penalty provisions to apply, they need to be
contained in the actual bill. It dismisses accompanying report language as
being nonbinding, and contends that the section of the Packers and
Stockyards Act (PSA) it specifies does not address animal cruelty and will
not apply to violations of the amendment if it becomes law. (The report
language refers to Section 312 of the PSA which has been codified as
section 213.) HFA is calling for passage of the language contained in the
original House bill, H.R. 1421.

"Farm Sanctuary's Response to HFA's Downed Animal Alert," Farm Sanctuary,
received November 12, 2001.
http://www.envirolink.org/express/ar-news.html"HFA Alert #3: Downer
Amendment Devoid of $10,000 Penalties," Legislative Update, The Humane
Farming Association, November 14, 2001.
http://www.envirolink.org/express/ar-news.html


3. OKLAHOMA COCKFIGHTING PETITION CLEARS WAY FOR VOTE
A petition to ban cockfighting has been found valid by the Oklahoma Supreme
Court in an 8-0 vote, clearing the way for a referendum. The court deemed a
sufficient number of the petition's signatures to be valid, and declined to
rule on the constitutionality of such a ban prior to a vote by the
citizenry. Cockfighting proponents argued these points and seemed stunned
by the ruling. The governor is expected to add the measure (State Question
687) to the 2002 general election ballot. If passed, cockfighting and
related activities will be made illegal, carrying a penalty of up to 10
years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. Spectators would face a
misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $500.
Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico are the only states where cockfighting
is legal. A Tulsa World editorial lauds the decision as a victory for
Oklahoma, and hopes for the failure of another referendum which seeks to
double the number of signatures required for any animal-related referendum.

"High court clears way for vote on cockfighting issue," Tulsa World, Chuck
Ervin, November 14, 2001.
"Finally a vote," Tulsa World editorial writers, Tulsa World, November 15,
2001.
http://www.tulsaworld.com
"Court clears the way for vote on cockfighting," The Oklahoman, Diane
Plumberg Clay, November 13, 2001.
http://www.newsok.com


4. CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE FOR EU PIGS
The European Commission adopted a Directive which will remedy welfare
problems identified in a science-based report on intensive pig farming. The
Directive prohibits tethering female pigs and confining pregnant pigs to
individual stalls. It restricts such procedures as castration, teeth
clipping and tail docking, requiring all preventative measures be taken to
possibly avoid them. Piglet weaning age will be increased to 4 weeks. The
size of boar pens and conditions for young pigs are also addressed, as are
noise level, lighting, and the quality and availability of water and straw.
Member states need to comply with the new requirements by January 1,
2003.

"The Commission adopts further standards for the welfare of pigs,"
Commission Online, November 9, 2001.
http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&doc=IP/01/1556|0|RAPID&lg=EN
"EU Pigs look forward to better deal," EUbusiness, November 12, 2001.
http://www.thepigsite.com/LatestNews/Default.asp?AREA=LatestNews&Display=2571


5. USDA WEB SITE ON WTO AGRICULTURAL NEGOTIATIONS
Information about agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization
can be found on a new USDA web site. The site contains USDA and other news,
fact sheets, U.S. proposals and links. It can be accessed at:
http://www.fas.usda.gov/itp/wto


6. PIG PRODUCTION VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
An Internet pig production conference is being held from November 5th to
December 6th, 2001. The conference is free, and one need only register
on-line to participate. Participants can read lectures, and comment and
discuss issues. The conference is hosted in part by the National Research
Center for Swine and Poultry of the Brazilian Company for Agricultural
Research. Among the conference topics are global production and
consumption, food safety, and genetics. The site contains some 30 articles
written by lecturers from various countries. The conference can be accessed
at: http://www.conferencia.uncnet.br/pork (click on "English").


7. VEAL INDUSTRY LAUNCHES MARKETING CAMPAIGN
A nationwide marketing program to promote veal and "dispel misconceptions"
is being planned. According to Veal USA, a trade group, veal consumption is
making a comeback this year after a lengthy period of decline attributed to
misconceptions about animal welfare. The campaign seeks to partner with
casual-theme restaurants and others in the culinary industry to "open doors
for U.S. produced milk-fed veal." It also aims "to establish and enforce
the most gentle care animal production system." Another feature will be the
first-ever "veal demand index," intended to help quantify annual veal
demand. A new quarterly publication, "The View," is now being distributed,
and a web site to sell veal on-line will debut on December 10th. Veal
promotion programs are funded by a $1-per-animal checkoff program
administered by the Cattlemen's Beef Board.

"Veal USA to Launch Nationwide Marketing Program to Promote U.S. Milk-Fed
Veal," Business Wire, Veal USA, November 14, 2001.
http://www.meatandpoultryonline.com/content/news/article.asp?docid={DBE3197D-D606-11D5-A77B-00D0B7694F32}
"Veal Industry Prepares Long-Range Marketing Awareness Campaign," AgWeb,
Nov. 12, 2001.
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?articleID=81376&newscat=GN


8. DAIRY INDUSTRY LAUNCHES CONFIDENCE CAMPAIGN
A "Dairy Confidence Campaign" has been announced to improve consumer trust
in dairy products in response to "new threats and challenges." Dairy
Management Inc. (DMI) manages the national dairy checkoff program, and is
focusing on two main campaign strategies. One involves developing a
communication plan in response to an animal disease outbreak. The other
entails building a network of support to promote consumer trust. The
network includes dairy operators, health organizations, school associates,
opinion leaders and consumers in a "grassroots effort to communicate with
one voice essential facts about the goodness of dairy."

"Producers Building Dairy Confidence Campaign," Ag Web, November 12, 2001.
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?articleID=81375&newscat=GN


9. MAKING VEGANISM DURING THANKSGIVING AND EVERY DAY
Carol Adams, author of "Living Among Meat Eaters: The Vegetarian's Survival
Handbook," has written a column intended to help make Thanksgiving more
palatable for vegans and their companions. An extensive listing of vegan
alternatives to common foods and ingredients is included.

Geoffrey Napper opened a vegan food cooperative in his garage in 1995,
offering 21 products to 50 customers. This year he expects to make $1.2
million catering to the needs of vegans in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area. The 36-year-old conceived the idea of a vegetarian
grocery store after serving as a volunteer prison minister. He hoped to
help people make positive changes in their lives to avoid ending up in
prison. In 1996 he opened Everlasting Life, which offers everything from
organic produce to personal care products and books. He is now planning to
open a 20,000-square-foot business that will include a supermarket, a
restaurant with seating for 80, a banquet hall big enough to seat 300, a
bakery, juice bar and bookstore. The building also has a room for meetings,
exercise classes and cooking demonstrations. First-year revenue for the
store in estimated at $5 million. Mr. Napper is also opening co-ops in
Atlanta and Chicago.

"Thanksgiving without meat: Simple substitutions let vegans and vegetarians
eat with the rest of the family," Carol J. Adams, The Dallas Morning News,
November 14, 2001.
http://www.dallasnews.com/lifestyles/food/STORY.ea280bb1e1.b0.af.0.a4.c1c46.html
"Expanding food retailer finds cooperative market," Washington Business
Journal, Eleni Chamis, November 9, 2001.
http://washington.bcentral.com/washington/stories/2001/11/12/focus8.html