Animal-rights organizations have asked the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to investigate a recent shipment of live horses from Winnipeg to Japan by an exporter they have targeted in a private prosecution.
Animal Justice, the Winnipeg Humane Society, the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition and Manitoba Animal Save filed a legal complaint over a Jan. 22 flight which transported horses from Swan River-area exporter Carolyle Farms.
The organizations want the federal government agency to investigate whether the shipment unlawfully exceeded the 28-hour time limit that, under federal legislation, live horses are allowed to be in transport without food, water or rest.
They claim the outbound flight was delayed. They said the horses were sent to Japan to be slaughtered and eaten as a raw delicacy.
The groups said documents obtained through an access to information request showed 99 horses were on the flight, with three per wooden crate.
Farm owner Lyle Lumax said Thursday no one, including the CFIA, told him the flight was over the time limit.
In February, a Manitoba provincial court judge allowed the organizations to proceed with a charge against Carolyle Farms under federal Health of Animals Regulations.
That case stems from a Dec. 12, 2022, shipment of horses to Japan. The groups pursued a private prosecution, after the CFIA did not proceed with enforcement action following their complaint.
The organizations claim the flight unlawfully exceeded the 28-hour time limit due to a flight diversion. None of the allegations has been proven in court.
Lumax has said the shipment followed best practices, with input from the CFIA, Japanese officials and the plane company.
A federal bill to ban the air export of live horses for slaughter is making its way through Parliament.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca