Legislation to make CCTV cameras mandatory in slaughterhouses in
England to safeguard animal welfare has been laid today (23
February) by Environment Secretary .
The legislation will come into effect from May 2018, once it
passes through Parliament, at which point businesses will have
six months to comply.
In August 2017, the Secretary of State launched a consultation on
the plans to deliver a manifesto
commitment for CCTV to be required in every slaughterhouse in
England in all areas where live animals are present, with
unrestricted access to footage for
Official Veterinarians - reassuring consumers that high welfare
standards are being effectively enforced.
A summary of responses published
in November showed that of almost 4,000 respondents, more than
99% were supportive of the plans.
Environment Secretary said:
“We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the
world and want to cement our status as a global leader by
continuing to raise the bar.
“Introducing compulsory CCTV cameras in slaughterhouses is a
further demonstration to consumers around the world that as we
leave the EU, we continue to produce our food to the very highest
standards.”
“The previous reaction to the consultation highlighted the
strength of feeling among the public that all animals should be
treated with the utmost respect at all stages of life and be
subject to the highest possible welfare standards.”
The proposals will also give the Food
Standards Agency’s (FSA) Official Veterinarians (OVs) unfettered
access to the last 90 days of footage to help them monitor and
enforce animal welfare standards.
The FSA has strict processes in place for the approval of
slaughterhouses, and specially trained vets carry out checks to
make sure the welfare of animals is protected throughout their
time in the slaughterhouse. If breaches are found, a
slaughterhouse can be given a welfare enforcement notice, have
its staff’s licences suspended or revoked, or be referred for a
criminal investigation.
Heather Hancock, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency,
said:
“I welcome this new legislation being introduced. It will help
businesses to improve animal welfare and hygiene standards across
the industry.
“We look forward to working with the industry as CCTV plans are
implemented, and to seeing public confidence rise as a
result.”
Businesses will have six months to comply with this legislation
once it has passed through Parliament. The penalty for failing to
comply will be an enforcement notice to the business or
prosecution.
Notes to editors
