Resumen de Welfare at slaughter: Animal welfare ‘a priority’ in most GB slaughterhouses

• THE majority of approved slaughterhouses in Great Britain were found to be operating to good animal welfare standards during a recent round of unannounced inspections by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The results of the inspections were published by the agency on May 22 and are due to be discussed by the FSA Board at its meeting on June 3.

  The FSA says that it completed 306 unannounced animal welfare inspections throughout England, Scotland and Wales in February and March this year. The inspections were prompted by the emergence earlier this year of footage showing apparent cruelty to animals in two slaughterhouses. The FSA reports that 87 per cent (267) of the businesses inspected were operating to good animal welfare standards, but that improvements were needed in 38 businesses (33 in England, two in Scotland and three in Wales). One business in England was found to require urgent improvement.

  The FSA reports that commonly occurring areas for improvement included the use of standard operating procedures, verification, documentation and monitoring, and the appointment of animal welfare officers. It also says that, where its visits identified areas for improvement, these had already been identified by Official Veterinarians (OVs) at most premises and were being actively pursued under enforcement programmes.....