The government plans to make CCTV mandatory in all slaughterhouses in England.

Defra secretary Michael Gove announced the launch of a consultation on mandatory CCTV surveillance on Friday. The aim of the proposal, which was a commitment in the Tories’ manifesto earlier this year, is to provide assurance that monitoring is taking place and standards are being maintained.

Mr Gove said the plans would “Reinforce [England’s] status as a global leader” in animal welfare, and added, “As we prepare to leave the EU, these measures provide a further demonstration to consumers around the world that our food is produced to the very highest standards.”

The proposals would introduce CCTV in all areas of slaughterhouses that animals pass through, from unloading, holding areas, stunning and killing; under the plans, which only apply in England, officials including Food Standards Agency vets would have unfettered access to facilities and recordings.

The plans have been welcomed by animal welfare groups including RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming.

Responding to the consultation launch on Friday, The British Veterinary Association (BVA) said the plans represent “A huge win for animal health and welfare, following years of campaigning” by vets’ groups.
 
BVA and the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) – who represent the Official Veterinarians (OVs) who oversee animal health and welfare and public health in slaughterhouses – have been campaigning for both mandatory CCTV in all areas of slaughterhouses where live animals are kept and full and unrestricted 24/7 access to CCTV footage for OVs as part of their long-standing welfare at slaughter campaign. The organisations said both commitments are vital if the government wants to see its plan pay off in terms of animal welfare and public confidence.

Commenting, British Veterinary Association President Gudrun Ravetz said, “Today’s announcement is extremely welcome. We have been campaigning on this issue for a number of years and this announcement represents a huge win for animal health and welfare in England. Mandatory CCTV in all areas of slaughterhouses will provide an essential tool in fostering a culture of compassion that could help safeguard animal welfare and we are particularly pleased to see a commitment to Official Veterinarians having unrestricted access to footage. Vets’ independence and unique qualifications help ensure that the UK will continue to have the highest standards of animal health, welfare and food safety.
 
“We recognise that the cost of installing CCTV may be a burden for some very small abattoirs, but it is important that the animals we farm for food have both a good life and a humane death and CCTV has a key role to play in ensuring these requirements are met.”
 
Under the current law Official Vets (OVs) have a right to request and to see the footage if they have cause for concern that abuse may be occurring. However, if this needs to be enforced though the courts the process can be protracted. Both BVA and VPHA have repeatedly voiced concerns that the purpose of CCTV in slaughterhouses is fundamentally undermined if vets are refused access to footage and the footage is not monitored independently of the slaughterhouse business operator.
 
Veterinary Public Health Association President Lewis Grant also commented, “This represents a unique opportunity for Food Business Operators to work together with their OVs to ensure that they operate under the highest standards of animal welfare at all times and that any staff training issues can be assessed and addressed by viewing appropriate footage. We are encouraged to see that it applies to all premises great and small and allows unrestricted access ensuring that this is a workable and viable tool for the OV.
 
“I feel that our OVs will universally approve these new proposals that should ensure this country remains a world leader in promoting the highest standards of animal welfare.”
 
Also on Friday, Defra confirmed it will update the animal welfare codes - guidance which sets the standards farmers and keepers have to meet under animal welfare legislation. The first code to be updated focuses on welfare standards for chickens bred for meat.
 
Gudrun Ravetz added, “We welcome the consultation to update welfare codes for farmed animals and pets, many of which are in urgent need of updating to reflect the latest animal welfare science and good practice. We are keen to see Defra working with the veterinary profession, industry and all relevant stakeholders to ensure vital welfare codes are brought up to date.”
 
Full details of the proposals and the consultation on CCTV in slaughterhouses is here. The consultation will remain open for six weeks. The consultation on the ‘Code of Practice for the Welfare of Meat Chickens and Meat Breeding Chickens’ can be found here, and will remain open for eight weeks.