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French parliamentary enquiry calls for CCTV in abattoirs

The four-month enquiry, launched after secretly-filmed video was released of cruel practices and unhygenic conditions in several French abattoirs, also recommended veterinary officers be present in large abattoirs to remove staff's impression of 'virtual impunity'.

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This article is freely available.

Video surveillance in abattoirs is among measures proposed by a French parliamentary inquiry into slaughterhouse conditions, reports BBC News.

The commission said it wanted to "shine a light on the 'black boxes'" that made up France's 941 abattoirs.

The inquiry was launched after a series of secretly filmed videos shocked the French public.

The videos showed animals being treated violently, while rules on hygiene and humane killing were ignored.

Nearly 100 people were interviewed by the commission over four months.

Documentary filmmakers, veterinarians, abattoir managers and owners as well as academics were among those who gave evidence to the inquiry.

Some of the 30 deputies who made up the commission also made surprise visits to four abattoirs to see conditions for themselves.

The undercover videos that prompted the inquiry were released by animal ethics pressure group L214. The inquiry was also said to be studying ways to improve the working conditions of abattoir employees.

The commission delivered its 255-page report on Tuesday and among the 65 recommendations reported by French media were:

  • Mandatory video monitoring at key sites within abattoirs - though deputies say they are mindful of potential abuses of this tool by employers
  • Full-time veterinary officers in abattoirs with more than 50 employees to counter "the feeling of virtual impunity with which certain abattoir employees go about their work" and make sure regulations are followed
  • Modernisation of abattoir equipment
  • Mobile abattoirs to reduce animal transportation times
  • Improved employee training
  • Setting up a national ethics committee

L214 said it welcomed the inquiry, which it said had "given a life to hundreds of thousands of animals that die each day behind the walls of abattoirs in France". It released more video on Tuesday, showing sheep hanging from chains and struggling after their throats had been cut as part of the ritual slaughter of thousands of animals.

The pressure group argued that the commission had limited itself to superficial measures rather than "immediately practicable solutions" such as reducing consumption of meat and animal products.

Read more of this report from BBC News.