Videos surveillance to be mandatory in AMIC certified abattoirs by 2026

Australia’s meat processing peak body has endorsed video surveillance in some abattoirs, with hope it will deter clandestine break-ins to film in abattoirs.

Video surveillance in certain abattoirs will be mandatory within two years following a decision by the meat industry’s peak body.

The Australian Meat Industry Council has made video surveillance mandatory for abattoirs that want to hold its animal welfare certification by 2026, after working with the RSPCA and other stakeholders.

The Australian Livestock Processing Industry Animal Welfare Certification System, known as AAWCS, has not required video surveillance in the past. About 80 per cent of cattle, sheep and pigs processed in Australia are covered by AAWCS, even though it is voluntary.

Abattoirs that don’t hold, or don’t want to hold, this certification can still operate without video surveillance.

AMIC chief executive Patrick Hutchison said many AAWCS processors already had video surveillance in place for training and quality management.

“We do not expect these systems to have an impact on staff recruitment and retention,” Mr Hutchison said

But Australian Alliance for Animals co-founder Dr Jed Goodfellow said the move was not enough to prevent animal welfare breaches.

“It is positive to see the industry acknowledging that video surveillance is an effective compliance tool for monitoring animal welfare standards,” Dr Goodfellow said.

“However, it is disappointing to see the industry is still pushing back on this becoming a requirement under relevant state and federal law.

“Restricting video surveillance to the industry’s quality assurance scheme alone is not sufficient – self-regulation is not transparency.”

Mr Goodfellow said if processors were serious about building public trust, they should provide video footage to regulators to check.

AMIC chairman Tom Maguire said the video mandate decision by the group’s processor council “highlights that the Australian meat industry views animal welfare as a core pillar of doing business”.

It’s also hoped it will deter clandestine break-ins to film in abattoirs.

“With industry providing greater transparency, AMIC will continue to call on state and federal governments and regulators to have zero tolerance of vigilante groups that trespass and illegally capture footage,” Mr Maguire said.

Cattle Australia president chairman Garry Edwards said the industry had shown it could work with reputable groups like the RSCPA that were truly aligned with positive animal welfare outcomes.

“What AMIC and processors have done is show some leadership and be very public about the fact they have nothing to hide,” Mr Edwards said.

“So this step around CCTV footage is commendable.”

Mr Edwards said agriculture was good at telling its story – to itself.

“We’re less good at talking to the people that actually want to hear and need to hear the truth about what we do in our production systems,” he said.

“We have issues come up with people think that it’s okay to come into our establishment, to our farms, our businesses and set up cameras to try and catch us out doing something that just shows a lack of understanding.”