Senate Bill 3797 proposes to provide overtime and holiday pay relief for small egg, meat, and poultry processing plants. The full text of the bill is not yet available.
Congress Considers Pay Relief for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Producers
Wuhan Bans Consumption of Wild Animals
The city of Wuhan, China has banned the consumption, breeding, and hunting of wild animals amid mounting pressure for the country to regulate the wildlife trade.
Congress Considers Ban on Use of Funds for Live Dog and Cat Purchases from China
Senate Bill 3628 proposes to prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase live cats or dogs from so-called “wet markets” in China.
House Considers Liability Shield for Meat Processors
H.R. 6883 proposes to shield meat processing facilities from liability during the COVID-19 pandemic. The full text of the measure is not yet available.
Department of Justice Clears Farmers’ Coordination in “Depopulation” Efforts
Meatpacker Sued in Coronavirus-Related Death in Pennsylvania
The family of a JBS meatpacking worker who died due to COVID-19 has filed suit against JBS in Pennsylvania, claiming that the unsafe conditions at a meatpacking plant led to the worker’s death.
Meatpacker Sued in Coronavirus-Related Death in Texas
The wife of a forklift driver for Quality Sausage Co. who died from COVID-19 has filed suit against the company in Texas, claiming that clearly infected workers were required to continue working or face losing their jobs.
Federal Judge Dismisses Suit Brought by Smithfield Workers
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a nonprofit workers group and an unidentified worker at a Smithfield processing facility in Missouri alleging that the company failed to institute measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The judge ruled that the workers need to ask the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration about workplace protections.
New York Considers Shutting Down Live Animal Markets
New York Assembly Bill A10399 and Senate Bill S8291 propose to indefinitely ban the operation of markets that sell freshly slaughtered animals, sometimes referred to as wet markets. The legislation also proposes the formation of a task force to address public health and animal welfare concerns of slaughterhouses.
New York Considers Ban on Euthanizing Companion Animals During Pandemic
New York Assembly Bill A10395 would establish a moratorium on euthanizing companion animals during the outbreak of COVID-19 for one year.