RSPCA delight as Senedd supports mandatory CCTV in abattoirs

The new regulations will start coming into effect on June 1

News just in! CCTV in abattoirs will now become mandatory across Wales.

Today (Tuesday 21 May), Members of the Senedd (MSs) have unanimously supported regulations that will see CCTV become mandatory in abattoirs and slaughterhouses across Wales – a move which will help safeguard animal welfare.

Last May, the Welsh Government confirmed it would develop regulations following a relevant consultation and a lengthy campaign from RSPCA Cymru.

Now, regulations which will require closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to be installed in all slaughterhouses in areas where live animals are unloaded, kept, handled and stunned have been given the final approval and will become law as of June 1.

The regulations also include requirements for recorded images to be retained by the slaughterhouse operator for a 90-day minimum period, and made available to authorised persons, which will come fully into force in December.

The RSPCA believes compulsory CCTV will help ensure welfare standards, provide reassurances to the public and act as a useful training tool for staff.

RSPCA Cymru’s senior public affairs manager, Billie-Jade Thomas said: “We are delighted that Members of Senedd have unanimously supported these regulations.

“Compulsory CCTV in Wales’ abattoirs will help to protect and safeguard the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter right across the country.

“We would like to thank each and every person who took the time to support our lengthy campaign which ultimately showed the Welsh Government that this is something people very much care about. We’d also like to thank MSs for supporting these long-awaited regulations today.”

RSPCA Cymru has long called for CCTV to be mandatory in Wales’ abattoirs, and polling has shown 82 per cent* of the public support the charity’s call for action.

As part of the successful RSPCA campaign calling for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses, 15,943 responses were sent to the Welsh Government during the 12-week consultation – showing the huge support for animal welfare and for the introduction of CCTV.

There were 16,014 responses in total to the Welsh Government’s consultation.

The Welsh Government previously announced £1.1 million of grant aid for small and medium size slaughterhouses to – among other things – support the “installation and upgrading of CCTV monitoring systems” – though this was not made a mandatory requirement at that time.

CCTV in slaughterhouses is already a mandatory requirement of the RSPCA’s farm animal welfare standards, which are used by the RSPCA Assured higher welfare certification scheme, and has been compulsory in England’s abattoirs since 2018.

This year the RSPCA celebrates its 200th birthday. To mark this special anniversary the animal welfare charity wants to inspire one million people to join their movement to improve animals’ lives. To find out how you can join their million-strong movement for animals visit www.rspca.org.uk/200.