Riverside Meats: PrimeSafe probes animal welfare allegations

VICTORIAN abattoir Riverside Meats is being investigated over allegations of animal welfare breaches.

VICTORIAN abattoir Riverside Meats is being investigated over allegations of animal welfare breaches.

The Weekly Times understands video footage obtained by animal welfare activists Animals Australia at the abattoir, in Echuca, was sent to industry regulator PrimeSafe last month.

A statement from PrimeSafe today confirmed the footage was taken at the abattoir and an investigation was continuing.

PrimeSafe directed the abattoir to remove four staff from their roles after it allegedly “identified non-compliance with Australian Standards”.

A spokesman for Riverside Meats said the abattoir had no comment to make on the investigation. The abattoir continues to slaughter sheep, cattle and pigs.

According to PrimeSafe, the footage showed “some activities that are not compliant with mandatory standards and for which sanctions have been put in place” and “some poor animal handling that is not best practice”.

It said it had “enforced directions and sanctions to ensure animal welfare is maintained in accordance with standards”.

“These include modifications to infrastructure, equipment and procedures, training of staff, ongoing management and monitoring of animal welfare and concentrated ongoing regulatory oversight,” it said.

PrimeSafe said the matter had been referred to Victoria’s chief vet, Charles Milne.

A statement from the Victorian Government is expected.

Family-operated Riverside Meats is understood to be one of the oldest abattoirs in Victoria and processes 5000 lambs and 1000 cattle, along with a significant number of pigs, per week.

In May, the abattoir told The Weekly Times it hoped to be “export-ready” within a year.