Spanish slaughterhouses will have to install video surveillance to ensure animals are not mistreated before being killed, the government announced on Tuesday, claiming a first in the European Union.
England, Scotland and Israel have already introduced the measure in their abattoirs.
‘This rule puts Spain at the forefront of Europe in this area and, as well as ensuring the welfare of animals during their passage through abattoirs, it also improves food safety guarantees for consumers,’ said Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzón.
The measure was approved at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting and will now be pushed quickly through parliament for approval.
It has already been agreed with the industry, government spokesperson Isabel Rodríguez told a press conference.
‘We will be the first country in the European Union to have a compulsory video surveillance system in abattoirs,’ said the consumer affairs ministry of Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government between the PSOE socialists and left-wing Podemos group.
Under the Spanish rules, abattoirs will be required to retain the video images for later verification by the authorities.
‘Large abattoirs have one year to implement the new standard’ with smaller operations granted two years, the ministry said.
Gracias a la regulación del @consumogob los mataderos españoles serán los primeros de la UE en contar con sistemas de videovigilancia obligatorios. Cámaras que ayudarán a mejorar la seguridad alimentaria y a evitar incumplimientos en materia de bienestar animal. pic.twitter.com/5OdqnlsN8V
— Alberto Garzón🔻 (@agarzon) August 23, 2022
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