CCTV welfare monitoring to be mandatory in Scots abattoirs
Scotland is to join England in introducing legislation which will make the use of CCTV mandatory in abattoirs in order to ensure proper monitoring of animal welfare.
Announcing the news, minister for rural affairs Mairi Gougeon said the proposal was backed by the vast majority of respondents to a recent consultation on the issue.
She said: “More than eight out of ten slaughterhouses in Scotland have already installed CCTV coverage in their premises voluntarily, and over 95 per cent of all animals slaughtered in Scotland are covered by some form of CCTV.”
However, admitting that the standards of coverage varied from location to location, she added: “This government is committed to ensuring the highest standards of welfare for animals. And we are pleased that so many respondents backed our proposals to make this compulsory.”
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) welcomed the move, calling it a huge win for animal health and welfare. BVA Scottish branch president, Melissa Donald, said: “This new legislation will help to reassure consumers that Scottish meat is slaughtered to the highest standards and keep confidence high at a crucial time.” l The Welsh government, also keen to ensure animal welfare, has made £5 million available to help eradicate sheep scab from the country’s hills and valleys.
The money, which will be made available through the rural development programme, will back an industry-led project after the disease was identified as one of the biggest threats to animal welfare in Wales.
While previous attempts to eliminate the disease had failed, a report drawn up by the National Sheep Association highlighted the shortfalls in earlier schemes – which included a lack of engagement amongst farmers, inappropriate treatment and the spread of disease to contiguous premises.
The NSA said that by providing an incentive to farmers to become involved, in the shape of free diagnosis and treatment, the proposed strategy aimed to increase engagement from more reticent sheep keepers.
And by co-ordinating treatment with neighbouring premises to an outbreak, it was hoped that the problem of re-infection will also be addressed.