Document type : article published on The Cattle Site
- Current legislative protections
- The essential role of the official veterinarian (OV)
The comprehensive new policy authored by leading experts and vets have recommended over 65 ways to improve the welfare of animals at slaughter. The new policy, published on 24 August by the British Veterinary Association (BVA), lands ahead of an upcoming review of England's Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing regulations (WATOK) by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
BVA's new position aims to build on current legislation and best practice. As well as a focus on the final events of an animal's life, its asks span across all areas of the slaughter process:
- The vital role of the Official Veterinarian (OV)
- Provision of suitable abattoir facilities
- Preparation, transport and acceptance for slaughter
- Handling and harvesting operations
- Effective stunning, data capture and reporting
- Non-stun slaughter, improved regulation, and acceptance of stunning
- Consumer education and food labelling
