To improve animal welfare and to help enforce animal cruelty laws, all 287 slaughterhouses in England must be equipped with closed-circuit television cameras where there are live animals, with 24- hour unrestricted access by FCA vets and backed by an independent monitoring system.
This came after a massive backlash by the public when an animal welfare group, Animal Aid, went into 11 random abattoirs and secretly filmed. They uncovered clear evidence of animal cruelty which was against all of the already established laws. 10 out of the 11 showed acts such as workers putting out their cigarettes on animals faces, animals beaten and blinded, newborn calves being stomped and other acts of cruelty even more heinous.
Abattoirs found continuing the cruelty can have their licenses pulled and face prosecution and jail.
Those welcoming the decision went far beyond just animal-rights organizations.
The Union that represents all UK supermarkets have backed CCTV for years, as the majority of supermarkets now demand that their suppliers have them.
It was also backed and endorsed by the Food Standard Agency, the RSPCA and the British Veterinary Association, whose president, Gudrun Ravetz, said, “The cameras are essential to safeguarding animal welfare. We are particularly pleased to see a commitment to official veterinarians having unrestricted access to footage, which the BVA has been calling for. Vets' independence and unique qualifications help ensure that the UK will continue to have the highest standards of animal health, welfare and food safety."
Those raising animals for slaughter must meet animal welfare laws and codes of practice, which covers the treatment of the animals.
Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, said “The proposals would make the UK a global leader on animal welfare. We have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and the actions I am setting out today will reinforce our status as a global leader. 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 government has plans to increase standards for farm animals and domestic pets by updating these statutory animal welfare codes as well.”
Cameras are being considered in Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh slaughterhouses.
Said the director of Animal Aid, Isobel Hutchinson, “After many years of campaigning for mandatory, independently monitored CCTV in slaughterhouses, we are greatly encouraged by this news. But although this development is a huge step forward, we urge the public to remember that even when the law is followed to the letter, slaughter is a brutal and pitiless business that can never be cruelty-free.”