A plant in New Mexico that plans to slaughter horses to produce meat for human consumption moved a step closer to operation on Friday when the Agriculture Department said it would provide legally required inspection services.

Courtney Rowe, a spokeswoman for the department, said it was likely to grant inspection services to two more plants “in the coming days.” The department did not name them but has said it has applications from facilities in Iowa and Missouri.

Although the plant, owned by the Valley Meat Company in Roswell, N.M., still has hurdles to overcome in the state, it is on track to become the first operation in the nation permitted to process horses into meat since Congress effectively banned the practice seven years ago.

Ms. Rowe said the department had determined that the company met all of the requirements of the Federal Meat Inspection Act.