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CCTV becomes mandatory in Welsh slaughterhouses
All Welsh slaughterhouses must have CCTV installed by 1 December 2024.
The move aims to improve the welfare of kept animals.

The Welsh Senedd has approved new regulations, which have made closed circuit television mandatory in all slaughterhouses in Wales.

By 1 December 2024, CCTV cameras will be required to be installed in areas where live animals are unloaded, kept, handled, stunned, and killed.

The Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses (Wales) Regulations 2024 has been introduced in an effort to improve and maintain the standards of welfare for all kept animals.

This legislation is a Programme for Government commitment, and is also included in the Animal Welfare Plan for Wales. Its introduction follows a twelve-week public consultation, where the majority of the 16,000 responses supported the installation of CCTV cameras in approved slaughterhouses.

While most slaughterhouses in Wales already have CCTV, the requirement will ensure that all approved slaughterhouses are covered. The Welsh government say this will support consumer confidence that welfare standards are being met.

This regulation comes after the announcement that the export of live animals has been banned in Great Britain. Under the recently passed Animal Welfare (Live Exports) Act animals can not be sent abroad to be slaughtered, and instead should be slaughtered domestically in a UK slaughterhouse.

The new CCTV legislation for Wales will come into force on 1 June 2024, which gives slaughterhouse operators six months to work with the Food Standards Agency to ensure they are compliant with the regulations.

Slaughterhouse operators will need to install and operate the systems, and keep the CCTV footage. The CCTV does not replace the direct oversight of management or Official Veterinarians.

Huw Irranca-Davies, cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, said: “The network of slaughterhouses in Wales provide essential services to farmers, butchers, and consumers. They also provide skilled jobs and support local supply chains.

“Mandatory CCTV for all our slaughterhouses further supports consumer confidence that welfare standards are being delivered.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.