Meat Processors Say EU Welfare Funds are Vital
EU - Europe’s meat processors will suffer unless the European Commission meets extra costs resulting from a new regulation on improving animal welfare at slaughter, said an industry body.
8 July 2009
1 minute read
Clitravi, the Liaison Centre for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union, has urged Commission chiefs to abide by a parliament recommendation to meet the added financial burden arising from the law due to come into force at the start of 2013, says FoodProductionDaily.
New welfare rules
According to FoodProductionDaily, the regulation is designed to increase the responsibility of operators for the welfare of the 360 million animals slaughtered in the region annually and will lead to a series of practical measures to ensure humane treatment.
Slaughterhouses will have to appoint an animal welfare officer and ensure staff are properly trained and certified. Each operator will need to develop standard operating procedures regarding animal welfare, with processors obliged to evaluate the efficiency of their stunning methods. After stunning, animals will have to be monitored regularly to ensure they do not regain consciousness before slaughter.
The Commission has backed the plan with health commissioner Androulla Vassiliou saying it would “make a real difference to the way animals are treated at the time of slaughter”.
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