Vast majority of pigs slaughtered in CCTV abattoirs

The vast majority of pigs produced in England and Wales are slaughtered in abattoirs with CCTV cameras, new survey figures reveal.

The latest Food Standards Agency (FSA) CCTV survey in slaughterhouses showed 96 per cent of pigs went through slaughterhouses with CCTV.

Key findings from the survey of 278 slaughterhouses in England and Wales were:

• 102 out of 207 red meat slaughterhouses (49.3 per cent) and 50 out of 71 white meat slaughterhouses (70.4 per cent) have some form of CCTV in use for animal welfare purposes
• This is similar to the 2015 survey, which showed 105 out of 215 red meat slaughterhouses (48.8 per cent) and 51 out of 72 white meat slaughterhouses (70.8 per cent) had some form of CCTV. 
• FSA estimate that in England and Wales 92 per cent of cattle, 96 per cent of pigs, 88 per cent of sheep and 99 cent of poultry throughput comes from premises with some form of CCTV in use.

The FSA said: “We support use of CCTV by business operators as part of their system for monitoring and protecting animal welfare.

“It does not replace direct oversight by management, or checks by officials, but it can improve their effectiveness.  

“Whilst we have been encouraged by increase in use of CCTV in recent years the latest survey results appear to suggest that uptake may have plateaued.  However, the FSA is well placed to continue to work with industry and Government partners to encourage further uptake.”

NPA view

NPA's Zoe Davies said: "There are encouraging results as they show the vast majority of pigs in the UK are slaughtered in premises with CCTV. This can only reassure the public about how the animals are treated in abattoirs."