The authority supporting humane handling provisions required of accredited veterinarians is provided by the Animal Health Protection Act (AHPA), under the Commercial Transport of Equines to Slaughter Act (9CFR88), and the Statement of Policy under the Twenty-Eight Hour Law (9CFR89). The AHPA specifically permits the Secretary of Agriculture to prohibit or restrict:

• The exportation of any livestock “unfit” to be moved;
• The use of any means of conveyance in connection with an importation of livestock because conveyance does not have accommodations for the safe and proper movement and humane treatment of livestock.

To learn more about transportation of equines to slaughter, please see NVAP Module 20: Slaughter Horse Transport available at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/
vet_accreditation/nvap_modules/HST/index.htm.

The Statement of Policy under the Twenty-Eight Hour Law (9CFR89) may be accessed at:
http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=
124dfba4d82a46c979fcb97894b07827&tpl=/ecfrbrowse
/Title09/9cfr89_main_02.tpl

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