Policy

Slaughterhouse Welfare and Reform

Slaughterhouse welfare is a critical endpoint in the farm animal welfare chain where failures cause immense suffering.

Key Facts

Around 1 billion land animals are slaughtered in the UK each year
Stunning failures affect an estimated 5 percent of slaughter animals in some facilities
Pre-slaughter handling stress, including long lairage times and rough handling, is a major welfare concern
Mandatory CCTV in UK slaughterhouses was introduced in 2018 and has led to increased enforcement actions
Religious slaughter without prior stunning continues in some jurisdictions and is contested on welfare grounds

Welfare Considerations

The slaughterhouse is the final point at which welfare can be protected or violated for farmed animals. Failures at this stage cause suffering to billions of animals annually. Mandatory CCTV, rigorous official veterinary oversight, improved stunning standards, and shorter lairage times are all welfare-critical improvements.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for mandatory CCTV in all slaughterhouses
Advocate for improved official veterinary presence and authority in slaughter facilities
Choose products from supply chains with transparent slaughter welfare audit data
Support investment in slaughterhouse technology improvements to reduce welfare failures
Engage with political debates on religious slaughter from an evidence-based welfare perspective