Meat & Poultry, May 18, 2012

Sydney, Australia – The New South Wales government announced new animal welfare requirements after an undercover video that depicted animal abuses at an abattoir provoked public outcry.

Under the new requirements, each abattoir will be required to designate an Animal Welfare Officer who must be on the premises to monitor and take responsibility for animal welfare. This and other measures are due to take effect in 2013.

“Only employees that have undertaken specific animal welfare officer training will be eligible to be designated,” said Katrina Hodgkinson, Minister for Primary Industries.

The measures were announced after Animal Liberation, an animal rights group, released video footage of animals being abused at Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors. Hodgkinson said the NSW government had also completed its investigation into the matter, and that the company will be fined A$5,200 ($5,108.38) for breaching its license conditions and it will be placed on the Food Authority’s Name & Shame register.

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