Animal Welfare severely compromised in Spanish slaughterhouses

Posted on 20/02/2013

The European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office published an appalling report of an audit carried out in Spanish slaughterhouses which evaluated controls for animal welfare at the time of slaughter.

Despite previous audits and recommendations, the report still shows a severe lack of consideration from the Competent Authorities responsible for the enforcement of animal welfare laws. It includes obligations under Directive 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing and Regulation (EC) 882/2004 on official controls, especially during the restraining of poultry, of cattle during ritual slaughter without stunning and the effectiveness of stunning (mainly but not exclusively in the poultry sector).

Eurogroup urges the European Commission to take swift action against Spain to ensure the rapid implementation of all controls for animal welfare at the time of slaughter.

In addition, this report highlights recent concerns raised as a result of the horsemeat scandal that some producers are unable to efficiently apply correct procedures to produce and trace food products, including the adoption and control of practices in abattoirs which protect the welfare of animals.

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