RESPONDING TO the Scottish Government’s recent announcement on mandatory CCTV in meat plants, NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick has asked for assurances that the resultant images will not become ammunition for the anti-meat lobby.

“Scottish agriculture already adheres to some of the highest animal health and welfare standards and pride themselves on producing meat to the highest of quality because of it," said Mr McCornick.

“It will be important, particularly due to the current climate, that access to any footage be carefully monitored. We have seen too often in recent times, doctored images and videos being used to fuel misinformation and untruths about our industry.”

Mr McCornick stressed that the union was willing to work constructively with the Scottish Government in developing legislation which both appeases the interest of the wider political and public interest as well as being able to be realistically implemented at farm level.

“Smaller abattoirs are key to rural and isolated farming communities but often suffer from small profit margins and could struggle to implement the mandatory changes off their own backs," he said. "NFUS would be looking for these abattoirs to receive some sort of assistance to comply with these new regulations."