Supermarket chain Morrisons is to install CCTV cameras in all its abattoirs in a bid to ensure transparency about animal welfare standards.
The cameras will be set up next month in the Colne and Turriff abattoirs of Morrisons’ wholly-owned meat processing business, Woodhead Brothers, which supply’s 95 per cent of Morrisons’ fresh lamb, beef and pork.
Martyn Fletcher, the supermarket’s manufacturing director, said: “Our customers want to know that animals are treated well through the slaughtering process and we believe installing CCTV cameras is the best way to demonstrate that we have the highest possible standards.”
“Morrisons is committed to the production of the highest quality food and excellence throughout our operations from field to fork. We can achieve this because we are the only major food retailer to own our own food manufacturing business.”
Footage from the security cameras will be stored for 30 days and made available to the Food Standards Agency .
The move has been welcomed by the RSPCA, which has previously called for the addition of CCTV cameras to all abattoirs.
Julia Wrathall, head of RSPCA’s farm animal science department, said: “We are delighted that Morrisons has taken this extremely important step in helping to safeguard animal welfare and hope that this will encourage others to do the same.”
“The RSPCA announced earlier this year that it is calling for all abattoirs to have CCTV installed, as part of ongoing work to improve the welfare of farm animals at all stages of their lives.”