Welfare at slaughter

This section is about one of the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) current issues – we bring you the latest information about welfare at slaughter

Background

In June 2009 the EU Agriculture Council reach political agreement on a regulation that improves the conditions for animals at the time of slaughter or killing and ensures that they are humanely treated. The new regulation comes into force on January 1 2013 across Europe.

In 2008 the EU Commission adopted a proposal on the provision of food information to consumers. The ENVI Committee and European Parliament (EP) adopted an amendment which would require all meat slaughtered without prior stunning to be labelled, in Spring 2010. This amendment was removed by the EU Council in February 2011; however a similar amendment was adopted by the ENVI committee in April 2011. The amended regulation was discussed for the second time by the EP in July 2011.

Compromise proposals on food information for consumers, extending mandatory country of origin labelling to fresh meat from pigs, sheep, goats and poultry were adopted with an overwhelming majority, however in order to reach a consensus the amendment was withdrawn. It was agreed that information on the stunning of animals should be considered in the context of future EU strategy for the protection and welfare of animals..

The BVA’s Position

The BVA has met with its specialist division, VPHA, industry and the Government to discuss welfare problems in UK slaughterhouses. A press release was issued after the meeting in August 2010 which outlines the issues involved.

On the specific issue of the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses, the BVA believes that Food Business Operators (FBOs) must have effective procedures in place either to constantly monitor stunning and slaughter operations, whether this is via CCTV or an aperture or window in the stunning pen.

The BVA is calling for one clear EU-wide welfare label that takes into account the welfare of animals use in food production from birth to slaughter, including the production system, transport and method of slaughter. We believe that the current voluntary labelling system is confusing for consumers. Country of origin labelling should include information on where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered.

The BVA believes that all animals should be effectively stunned before slaughter and if slaughter without stunning is still to be permitted then any meat from this source must be clearly labelled. This will enable all consumers to fully understand the choice they are making when purchasing such products.

What the BVA has done

The BVA has:

Issued a press release welcoming the EP decision in July 2011 to extend mandatory country of origin labelling to fresh meat from pigs, sheep, goats and poultry but reaffirmed its commitment to continue lobbying for consumers to have the right to know whether the meat they buy comes from animals that have been stunned prior to slaughter
Kept welfare at slaughter high on it’s agenda and in August 2011 challenged the Food Standards Agency to further investigate alleged cases of animal abuse.
Discussed welfare at slaughter issues at the Ethics and Welfare Group meeting in February 2011 and at BVA Council in April 2011