A new consultation has been launched in Northern Ireland on proposals to make closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems “mandatory” in slaughterhouses.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) Minister Andrew Muir said today (Wednesday, March 26) that animal welfare is one of his top priorities and this proposal would bring Northern Ireland into parity with the rest of the UK
Minister Muir said: “I am aware that slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland operate to a very high standard, and nearly all have CCTV coverage in place.
“This proposal will supplement those high standards through three key aims; enhancing coverage by making CCTV mandatory in unloading, handling, lairage, stunning and the kill areas of the slaughterhouses, allowing unrestricted access to the CCTV recordings for officials; and requirement that all recordings are kept for 90 days.”
DAERA stated while it recognises that the vast majority of industry will already meet the proposed requirements, “the regulations, if introduced, will ensure that there is parity across all slaughterhouses”.
CCTV
CCTV has been mandatory in slaughterhouses in England since November 2018 and official veterinarians also “have unrestricted access to footage to reassure consumers that high welfare standards are being effectively enforced”.
It also became mandatory in Scotland in July 2021 but CCTV is not currently compulsory in Wales or Northern Ireland.
According to the public consultation document on mandatory CCTV coverage in slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland “it is accepted that mandatory CCTV coverage can lead to improvement in practices and operating processes, a greater ability to observe animals in areas that are inaccessible, improve consumer perception of slaughterhouses and help prevent and deter offences”.
The document also states: “The proposed legislation is aimed specifically at preventing harm to of animals when they are being held and processed in a slaughterhouse, as well as providing legal mechanisms to combat poor or negligent practice.
“It will set down specific requirements which must be complied with at all stages of the slaughter or killing process; and it is offence to cause any animal avoidable excitement, pain or suffering at any time between its arrival at a slaughterhouse and when it is killed”.
The consultation closes on May 20, 2025 and DAERA welcomes views from interested parties.
