Chicken plant at centre of animal welfare concern
A poultry processing plant in Coupar Angus has come under fire after a claim it was failing to meet industry standards in animal welfare.
A freedom of information investigation found thousands of farm animals in Scotland suffering more than 700 breaches in welfare rules at slaughterhouses.
Cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens were found injured, emaciated, diseased or dead on arrival at the abattoirs investigated, including cannibalism among chickens.
The names of the abattoirs in question were redacted, but the investigators highlighted the 2 Sisters Poultry in Coupar Angus for a single case of “noncompliance” and failing to meet industry standards to spare unnecessary or unavoidable suffering and distress when it comes to slaughtering chickens.
A spokesperson for the Coupar Angus facility explained: “The highest standards of animal welfare will always be a top priority.
“The Food Standards Scotland audit in question graded our facility overall as satisfactory, which included 77 other measures complied with.
“A single case of historic non-compliance on birds held before slaughter was highlighted, which was picked up on a Food Standards Scotland review of our own welfare officer’s records.
“Due to machinery breakdown, birds were housed in our holding area overnight, as agreed by veterinary staff. They were monitored by welfare officers throughout, before proceeding to slaughter at 6am.
“This is technically measured as a noncompliance, but does not require any further action, and illustrates the depth and transparency of the Food Standards Scotland audit process.”
The investigative report, which covered the whole of Scotland, found 706 incidents of noncompliance nationwide between May 1, 2015, and January 31, 2017, including 257 accounts of critical non-compliance, which is described as “imminent risk to welfare”.
A spokesperson for the The 2 Sisters poultry processing plant
Scottish Government said: “Any mistreatment of animals, wherever it occurs, is completely unacceptable and given the seriousness of these figures we absolutely cannot be complacent.
“We are satisfied that Food Standards Scotland fully investigate any welfare breaches which have taken place at Scottish slaughterhouses and take all required enforcement action.
“Scotland has high welfare standards at slaughter, with strict legal requirements that must be adhered to.”
Ian McWatt, of Food Standards Scotland, said all instances of animal welfare
breaches were taken very seriously and investigated thoroughly.
He said: “All animal welfare breaches that occur within approved slaughterhouses in Scotland are investigated as a priority and action is take by qualified official veterinary personnel.
“We take proportionate action in relation to animal welfare breaches, which range from verbal advice, enforcement letters, welfare enforcement notices to investigations with a view to providing reports to the Procurator Fiscal, and if required the suspension or revocation of slaughterer’s certificate of competence.”