SAFE Act of 2025
4/1/2025, 8:06 AMSummary of Bill HR 1661
Bill 119 HR 1661, also known as the Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, aims to amend the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 to ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the United States. The bill seeks to protect horses from being slaughtered for food and to prevent the sale of horse meat for human consumption.The SAFE Act has garnered bipartisan support in Congress, with lawmakers from both parties coming together to advocate for the protection of horses. Proponents of the bill argue that horses are not raised as food animals in the US and should not be subjected to the inhumane practice of slaughter for human consumption.
If passed, the SAFE Act would make it illegal to slaughter horses for food in the US and would also prohibit the export of live horses for slaughter in other countries. The bill aims to ensure that horses are treated humanely and are not subjected to the cruel and often brutal process of slaughter for food. Overall, the SAFE Act represents a significant step towards protecting horses from being slaughtered for human consumption and promoting animal welfare in the US. It is currently pending in Congress and has the potential to make a positive impact on the treatment of horses in the country.
Congressional Summary of HR 1661
Save America's Forgotten Equines Act of 2025 or the SAFE Act of 2025
This bill permanently prohibits the slaughter of equines (e.g., horses and mules) for human consumption. (Current law prohibits the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This bill extends the prohibition to equines.)
Specifically, this bill prohibits a person from knowingly (1) slaughtering an equine for human consumption; or (2) shipping, transporting, possessing, purchasing, selling, or donating an equine to be slaughtered for human consumption or equine parts for human consumption.
The bill subjects a violator to a fine.
The bill applies to conduct in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. However, it does not apply to an activity carried out by an Indian for a religious ceremony.
As background, in recent years, the appropriations acts have prohibited the Department of Agriculture (USDA) from using federal funds to inspect horses before they are slaughtered for human consumption. Therefore, there are currently no USDA-inspected horse slaughter facilities in the United States.
