WASHINGTON (AP) -- Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer says a new rule will be written to eliminate meat plant slaughter of sick or weakened cows.
Schafer told reporters during a Washington roundtable discussion Tuesday that the new rule will close a loophole in regulations.
A 60-day review of rules was prompted by a 143 million pound beef recall in February, ordered after the Humane Society of the United States released undercover video showing plant employees abusing the so-called downer cows at Chino-based Westland/Hallmark Co.
An agency review found that some of the downer cows were slaughtered in violation of USDA policy, which led to the recall.