Having personally highlighted the key issues with standards of animal welfare in England’s slaughterhouses, Justin Tomlinson MP has hailed as an important victory the announcement that all slaughterhouses will be required by law to have CCTV cameras following a long campaign.
The change in law will require that all slaughter houses in England must have CCTV cameras present in any areas in which animals dwell, are transported or slaughtered. The measures come after Justin and animal welfare campaigners argued that without these deterrents in place to monitor treatment of the animals, abuses can occur and go unchecked.
The law will form part of a new series of measures geared at tackling abuses in the meat industry, as well as bolstering existing animal welfare and enforcing current laws.
Justin, who has backed these necessary measures as MP has also backed government calls, to raise the existing standards for farm animals and domestic pets by adapting legislation to account for recent technology changes and advice from vets.
Along with campaigners, groups including the Food Standards Agency, the British Veterinary Association, the RSPCA and others have welcomed the news.
Justin Tomlinson MP Said: “Local residents know that I take these issues very seriously. For too long footage has leaked out of certain slaughterhouses that show callous and egregious cruelty towards animals, that I think we all find horrifying. These changes to standards, as well as tightening enforcement, we be key to securing that our countries approach to animal welfare remains the highest in the world, exactly where it should be. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and give praise to those who have campaigned for this, in some cases over many years.”
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “As we prepare to leave the EU, these measures provide a further demonstration to consumers around the world that our food is produced to the very highest standards.”
Isobel Hutchinson, director of Animal Aid said: “After many years of campaigning for mandatory, independently monitored CCTV in slaughterhouses, we are greatly encouraged by this news. This development is a huge step forward.”
