British Veterinary Association responds as CCTV made mandatory in Welsh slaughterhouses

The British Veterinary Association has praised new laws making CCTV mandatory in Welsh slaughterhouses as a “big step forward for animal welfare”.

The new regulations, which were yesterday passed by the Senedd and come into force on June 1, mean CCTV must be installed in all slaughterhouse areas where live animals are unloaded, kept, handled, stunned, and killed.

British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Malcolm Morley said: “We have long lobbied for and strongly support these new regulations. CCTV is a useful tool in helping to ensure that legal requirements are met and high animal welfare standards are maintained. Making CCTV mandatory is a big step forward for animal welfare but also for the confidence of consumers who buy animal products. However, it is really important to ensure that, although valuable, CCTV footage checks must not reduce or replace the physical monitoring and verification of animal welfare and hygiene requirements that are currently undertaken.”