Policy Change Would Allow Civil Or Criminal Action To Be Taken Against Livestock Haulers

The proposed policy change would allow civil or criminal penalties to be brought up against livestock haulers who handle animals in an inhumane manner when transporting them to slaughterhouses. Current law hold owners of farms and slaughterhouses solely responsible for instances of animal abuse in connection with slaughter.  The FSIS believes that the policy change will improve the welfare of the livestock by making sure that proper procedures for handling the animals are followed: “Many of these individuals are not employed by the establishment and thus are not required to follow instructions from the establishment on the handling of livestock in connection with slaughter.”