The Veterinary Association for Farm Animal Welfare (VAFAW), a nonprofit organization, has submitted lengthy comments to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) about Animal Partisan ’s petition that was submitted in September 2023.

.That petition requests that FSIS issue a notice to convey that: 1) State government officials are not categorically pre-empted from enforcing state anti-cruelty laws by the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, or the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and 2) FSIS personnel should cooperate with state government officials in the enforcement of state anti-cruelty laws and improve clarity and frequency of communication (i.e., Letters of Concern (“LOC”)) to those officials

 VAFAW is the only veterinary organization in the United States devoted solely to the welfare of farm animals, with a membership that includes veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animalwelfare scientists, and other professionals who support the mission. 

“We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments on Petition #23-07 by Animal Partisan, which was submitted on September 2, 2023” VAFAW said.  “This petition calls for clarification of the circumstances in which federal laws preempt state criminal animal cruelty and neglect laws when animals are mistreated during slaughter or when evidence of mistreatment occurring prior to slaughter is discovered by Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) personnel at the slaughter plant; it also requests better communication between FSIS and state governmental officials in such circumstances.”

It encouraged FSIS to grant the requests described in the petition. 

The veterinary professional recognizes the importance of reporting, investigating, and prosecuting abuse and neglect of animals and appreciates that those in iposition to identify suspected violations of state animal abuse and neglect laws have a duty to aid in these processes. Stopping and preventing animal abuse is aligned with several components of the veterinary oath, including the prevention and relief of animal suffering and the protection of animal health and welfare. 

The group said research confirms that all animals subject to FSIS inspection are sentient and have the capacity to feel pain and other negative affective states associated with abuse and neglect, such as fear, anxiety, overheating, cold stress, panic, frustration, hunger, thirst, and helplessness.

“Thus, from a biological and veterinary perspective, there is no reason to discount abuse and neglect suffered by animals covered by the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA), Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), or Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)” it added.