HR5286-119

What This Bill Does

The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act adds an explicit interstate-commerce prohibition to the Animal Health Protection Act. No person may move livestock in interstate commerce if the animals are unfit to travel. The bill defines unfit to travel by reference to Article 7.3.7(3), Chapter 7.3 of the World Organisation for Animal Health's Terrestrial Animal Health Code, including later changes. It also lists covered conditions: animals that are sick, injured, weak, disabled, fatigued, unable to stand unaided or bear weight on each leg, blind in both eyes, unable to be moved without additional suffering, newborn with an unhealed navel, in the final 10 percent of pregnancy at planned unloading, within 48 hours after giving birth and traveling without offspring, or in a body condition that would create poor welfare under expected climate conditions. The bill preserves interstate movement when the purpose is providing veterinary care.

Who Benefits and How

Farmed animals benefit because livestock unfit to travel cannot be moved in interstate commerce except for veterinary care. Animal welfare organizations benefit from a federal transport standard tied to World Organisation for Animal Health welfare criteria. Veterinarians benefit because movement for veterinary care remains expressly permitted. Consumers concerned about animal welfare benefit from stronger federal standards for transport of vulnerable livestock.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Livestock haulers must screen animals for listed conditions before interstate movement. Meat producers must adjust shipping practices for sick, injured, late-pregnant, newborn, or recently postpartum animals. Livestock auctions must avoid interstate transfers of animals that cannot stand, bear weight, see, or travel without added suffering. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service staff must enforce the new prohibition under the Animal Health Protection Act.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits interstate movement of livestock that are unfit to travel.
• Defines unfit to travel by reference to World Organisation for Animal Health standards.
• Includes animals that are sick, injured, weak, disabled, fatigued, blind, newborn, late-pregnant, recently postpartum, or climate-vulnerable.
• Protects interstate movement for the purpose of providing veterinary care.