Charity's work prompts slaughter action

Jason Aldiss, a Yorkshire-based official of the Veterinary Public Health Association, which includes vets monitoring slaughter on behalf of the government, said this week that he and his colleagues were "grateful" to Animal Aid.

He was commenting after a summit meeting of meat business interests to discuss the films, released last year, which showed inappropriate use of stunning tongs, kicking of animals and animals witnessing slaughter while awaiting their turn.

His association, the British Meat Processors Association, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers, the Scottish Association of Meat Wholesalers, Defra, the Humane Slaughter Association and the Meat Hygiene Service (the government's inspectorate) met in June.

Last weekend, an observers' report on their discussions by the British Veterinary Association was finally rubber-stamped by all sides.

It said: "The organisations acknowledged that the Animal Aid films raised concerns. Food business operators must have effective procedures in place either to constantly monitor stunning and slaughter operations or to enable them to inconspicuously observe stunning and slaughter at any time.

"Such arrangements may include an aperture or window into the stunning area or the use of CCTV."

The public health vets will organise a further meeting to assess progress. Dr Aldiss was their president until June and remains senior vice president.

He works for Leeds-based contractor Eville & Jones, which inspects abattoirs for the Meat Hygiene Service – recently absorbed into the Food Standards Agency. He said he was grateful to Animal Aid for making clear to vets like him that there were things they did not see because behaviours changed when they turned up.

They had already made inspections more random.