CCTV in slaughterhouses: Wales hints at future legislation
“Improving welfare at slaughter is a hugely important campaign for veterinary surgeons."
The Welsh Government has hinted at future legislation to bring CCTV into slaughterhouses.
Lesley Griffiths, Welsh cabinet secretary for rural affairs, announced a £1.1 million scheme to grant aid to small and medium-sized slaughterhouses.
“Welfare friendly infrastructure and facilities will be supported and also the installation and upgrading of CCTV monitoring systems,” she said.
“I want to assist Food Business Operators to put systems in place, while legislating for CCTV in slaughterhouses is taking place in England. I want Wales’ slaughterhouses to be fully prepared as I continue to explore opportunities to legislate in the longer term.”
Welcoming the news, BVA Welsh branch president Sarah Carr said: “Improving welfare at slaughter is a hugely important campaign for veterinary surgeons and we hope that the Welsh Government will move quickly towards legislating to introduce CCTV in all Welsh slaughterhouses.
"Mandatory CCTV will provide an essential tool in fostering a culture of compassion that helps safeguard animal welfare. It will also be important for Official Veterinarians to have unrestricted access to footage to ensure Wales continues to have the some of the highest standards of animal health, welfare and food safety.
“The announcement of grant aid for Welsh abattoirs is particularly welcome as it targets smaller local slaughterhouses and supports our view that food animals should be slaughtered as near to the point of production as possible.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
