UK: FSA proposes CCTV in slaughterhouses
The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advocated the use of cameras and closed circuit television (CCTV) in slaughterhouses in an attempt to prevent animal welfare violations.
The FSA's director of operations, Andrew Rhodes, has proposed the voluntary introduction of surveillance cameras after secret filming carried out by animal rights group Animal Aid last year suggested that abuse was taking place in a small number of British slaughterhouses.
However, Mr Rhodes said he recognised this wouldn’t be a straightforward measure, with issues over who would monitor the footage and how long it could be kept for being raised. He also admitted that the industry in general did not support the idea.
Added to this, an animal welfare survey carried out by made by the Official Veterinarian showed that only 6% of slaughterhouses in the UK and Northern Ireland were not meeting animal welfare standards and only 1% were performing practices that resulted in "direct harm" to animals.
