Morton’s civil violation bill for transporting nonambulatory cattle to feedlots and slaughter facilities approved by Legislature

May 26, 2009

Olympia…A bill sponsored by Sen. Bob Morton, R-Kettle Falls, to make it a civil infraction to knowingly transport nonambulatory cattle to feedlots and slaughter facilities was approved by the Legislature.  

Senate Bill 5974 is intended to make it more practical to stop “downer cows” from getting into the food chain. 

After the December 2003 discovery at an eastern Washington slaughterhouse of a cow infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy – commonly known as “mad cow disease” – the 2004 Legislature made it a criminal violation to transport or accept a downer cow.  

Morton’s bill does not remove that criminal violation, but gives county sheriffs a more practical tool to deal with the problem. Presently, criminal charges involve a lengthy and costly legal process for both county sheriffs and county prosecutors. 

Under the bill, a civil violation and a criminal charge cannot be filed against a person for the same violation.  

Morton’s measure provides for a fine of up to $1,000 for transporting or accepting downer cows. 

“It’s not worth the risk under the threat of a $1,000 fine,” Morton said. “The incentive will be there for people to err on the side of caution in a questionable situation.”

More than 90 percent of Washington’s beef goes to export markets. After the 2003 incident, those markets were closed, leaving a large quantity of beef stranded and eventually costing the industry millions of dollars. Japan was the first to lift its ban, but not until June 2006. 

Officials from the state Department of Agriculture are at livestock sites frequently to monitor animals brought in as part of the effort to ensure sick or injured cattle do not get into the food chain. The federal government also increased its efforts to protect consumers after the 2003 incident. 

“Transporting or accepting sick cattle for eventual use as food is very serious,” Morton said. “We saw how it can affect the industry and we don’t want to go there again.” 

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Additional contact: Penny Drost (360) 786-7522 or drost.penny@leg.wa.gov