CCTV recording should be mandatory in slaughterhouses in all areas where live animals are present, with unrestricted access to real time and stored footage for OVs.

The benefits of mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses are:

• increased opportunities to observe and verify handling of animals and the proper application of the stun and slaughter process;
• increased opportunities to protect the food chain and public health;
• increased consumer confidence that food business operators are taking all necessary steps to prioritise, assess, and address animal welfare issues;
• provision of a valuable training tool for slaughterhouse staff to promote best practice and compliance with legislative and commercial standards; and
• provision of supplementary evidence in response to any allegations of illegal practice.

Whilst CCTV footage checks are a valuable additional measure for enforcement, they shouldn't reduce or replace the physical monitoring and verification of animal welfare and meat hygiene requirements that OVs undertake.