Meat industry focus of RSPCA welfare report
A recent report has shone a light on gaps in animal welfare regulations in Australia’s meat processing industry. And a key industry body has responded to the recommendations.
GAPS in animal-welfare regulations across the Australian meat processing industry are the focus of a recent industry report, with a number of recommendations to improve regulations and standards.
The detailed RSPCA report outlined 13 recommendations regarding animal-welfare requirements across abattoirs, poultry processors and knackeries.
The recommendations include the development of Australian animal-welfare standards and guidelines for livestock processing establishments, with the aim to replace the Model Code as an urgent priority.
The RSPCA has also recommended including species-specific standards where requirements differ for all points of processing; a minimal level of training in animal welfare to be required and held by auditors to cover all aspects of live animal handling; and a minimum of quarterly audits of processing plants and abattoirs.
RSPCA Australia chief scientist Bidda Jones said the report aimed to highlight the gaps in animal-welfare regulation across the processing industry, in a bid to give the public confidence in the quality of Australian animal welfare practices.
“For a long time, the RSPCA has been concerned about the differences in how Australian slaughtering establishments are regulated between states and territories, and what this means for the welfare of animals at those facilities,” Dr Jones said.
“Voluntary industry standards that go above minimum regulatory requirements can improve animal-welfare outcomes when they’re in place,” she said.
“But the public should be able to have confidence that all animals in Australia are handled and slaughtered humanely. With the current regulatory system, having that confidence is not always possible.”
Australia Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said animal welfare was considered “vital in the sustainable operation of processing establishments”, and agreed with recommendations outlined in the report to develop a national animal welfare standard.
“AMIC participated in the development of the initial draft standards under NSW leadership, and for several years has pursed both commonwealth and state regulators to progress the development of the Australian animal-welfare standards and guidelines for livestock at processing establishments to implementation,” Mr Hutchinson said.
Dr Jones said the report demonstrated there was “still a long way to go” to ensure humane slaughtering and handling across Australian abattoirs and processing plants.
“We urge government and industry to take note of this report and scorecard,” she said.
“The resumption of progress on the development of the Australian animal-welfare standards and guidelines for livestock at processing establishments provides a crucial opportunity to put in place measures to genuinely improve animal welfare and meet the community’s expectations.”
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