Valley Meat Co., a Roswell, N.M. business that is trying to become the country’s only horse meat processing plant, has received federal approval to slaughter horses for their meat. The USDA said it was required by law to issue a "grant of inspection" to Valley Meat Co., because it had met all federal requirements, reports Reuters. Now, the USDA is obliged to assign meat inspectors to the plant.

The USDA also said it may soon issue similar grants for plants in Missouri and Iowa. Horse meat cannot be sold in the U.S., but it can be exported.