News

Hearing Friday on New Mexico horse processing

A hearing is scheduled Friday in a New Mexico District court on a temporary restraining order issued Monday to keep Valley Meat of Roswell, New Mexico from beginning horse processing on New Year’s Day.

While the 10th circuit court of appeals lifted a previous temporary restraining order in mid-December, the New Mexico Attorney General, Gary King, filed for another restraining order December 19th. King says commercial horse slaughter poses health and environmental risks to New Mexicans and that Valley Meat “has a long history of non-compliance with existing laws.” The case was assigned to a new judge on December 23rd.

Friday’s hearing will allow horse processing proponents to present their side of the case. The attorney for Valley Meats says a permit issue with the state of New Mexico should be resolved in a couple of weeks.

The appeal of a restrictive state environmental permit in Missouri is still pending for the owner of a horse processing plant ready to begin operations in that state.