Video surveillance making sure animals are handled humanely prior to being killed is now obligatory in Spanish slaughterhouses.
The executive in Moncloa introduced this new rule on Tuesday, claiming it was once the primary of its sort within the European Union.
“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,” mentioned Consumer Affairs Minister Alberto Garzon.
The measure was once authorized at Tuesday’s cupboard assembly and can now be driven briefly thru parliament for approval.
It has already been agreed with the business, executive spokesperson Isabel Rodriguez advised a press convention.
“We will be the first country in the European Union to have a compulsory video surveillance system in abattoirs,” mentioned the shopper affairs ministry of Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing executive.
Guillermo Moreno, government director of Equalia, an NGO that lobbied for the reform, advised AFP he was once glad with what he known as “a necessary and important first step to raise animal welfare standards in abattoirs”.
He added that England, Scotland and Israel had already offered the measure of their slaughterhouses.
Under the Spanish laws, butcheries might be required to retain the video pictures for later verification by way of the government.
“Large butcheries have one year to implement the new standard”, with smaller operations granted two years, the ministry mentioned.
