MEAT plants in Scotland are ahead of the game regarding CCTV surveillance and have no need to follow Defra’s move to make the use of cameras mandatory.

According to the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, the delivery of high welfare standards is already a priority for all its member companies, with all in-plant operations and procedures being carried out under the full supervision of a veterinary official, as required by law.

Environment secretary Michael Gove last week announced that CCTV is to become mandatory in abattoirs in England to reassure consumers that animal welfare is being safeguarded.

Food Standards Agency veterinarians are to be given unrestricted access to footage of all areas containing livestock south of the Border. Any welfare breaches can results in a welfare enforcement notice, the suspending or revoking of staff licences or a possible criminal investigation.

Commenting on Defra's move, SAMW executive manager Ian Anderson told The Scottish Farmer: “In Scotland, plant owners/managers, as the designated Food Business Operator, are already responsible under law for the way in which all in-plant operations and procedures are carried out, including in relation to welfare standards.

“These are hands-on and eyes-on activities, carried out by the veterinary official and FBO in person and in real time, which we believe are delivering extremely high welfare standards across our membership companies."

It was against this background of existing high standards that SAMW had already discussed and examined the use of CCTV in Scottish abattoirs, over a long period, with the Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland, he noted, adding that over 95% of red meat processing in Scottish abattoirs was already in plants which use CCTV.

"With regard to the new English development, SAMW believes key issues remain to be discussed concerning the use and development of CCTV in plants, especially the need for suitable training to be given to those who will be required to view CCTV footage," said Mr Anderson.

“Given that all current abattoir operations are carried out under the supervision of fully trained veterinary officers, the viewing of CCTV footage should also be by equivalently trained officers. There is also an interpretation factor to be considered when viewing CCTV footage. No matter how good the CCTV image may be, it can never be compared with real time observation by the veterinary officer."

SAMW also pointed out that there were issues to be discussed concerning workers’ rights, especially as staff in other industries, such as health care, were not subjected to CCTV surveillance.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said that ministers had already recommended CCTV as 'best practice', but agreed that CCTV by itself would not prevent welfare failures or secure compliance, and that it preferred to monitor animal welfare at time of slaughter through the presence of Food Standards Scotland staff in all approved slaughterhouses.

British Veterinary Association president Gudrun Ravetz commented: “We welcome the announcement by Mr Gove. We have been campaigning on this issue for a number of years and this announcement represents a huge win for animal health and welfare in England.

“Mandatory CCTV in all areas of slaughterhouses will provide an essential tool in fostering a culture of compassion that could help safeguard animal welfare and we are particularly pleased to see a commitment to official veterinarians having unrestricted access to footage.”