Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has strongly condemned the 706 animal welfare breaches that were reported during the 20-month period from 1st May 2015 until 31st January 2017, reiterating it does not tolerate animal cruelty.
According to FSS, approximately a quarter of the reported breaches, or 181 cases, occurred in abattoirs, with the remainder “being attributable to on farm and transport”.
FSS notes that four cases are currently under investigation, with one of those being already at the prosecution stage, while it has suspended ten slaughterers’ Certificates of Competence.
In addition, animal welfare breaches that relate to transport or originating on farm are “reported to the relevant enforcement authorities (Local Authority Trading Standards or the Animal and Plant Health Agency) for further investigation”.
During the reported period, approximately 900,000 cattle, 2,390,000 sheep, 580,000 pigs and 81,400,000 poultry were slaughtered in abattoirs in Scotland, while 95% of all animals in the country are slaughtered in abattoirs with CCTV.
Responding to Meat Management’s request for comment, FSS highlighted it does “not tolerate animal cruelty” and added: “Further solutions to this unacceptable issue will be considered by a new working group comprising of Food Standards Scotland, Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Government Animal & Plant Health Agency, Scottish SPCA and Scottish Local Authorities”.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
