Debate contribution: Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 29 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5645200
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I am grateful for the opportunity to debate this motion, which seeks the Assembly's approval to introduce the draft Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026. In 2015, the then Farm Animal Welfare Committee, now the Animal Welfare Committee, which is an expert group that advises all Governments in the UK, including that of Northern Ireland, on matters relating to the slaughter of animals, recommended that the use of CCTV be made mandatory in all abattoirs. Its overriding view was that mandatory CCTV would strengthen the operation and application of existing welfare protections for animals when they reach the point of slaughter. Northern Ireland is the last jurisdiction to implement the recommendations from that report. I am therefore pleased to bring the regulations to the House today. They will not only maintain legislative parity with the rest of the UK but protect animals at the point of slaughter, as well as businesses and their employees. I will get into the detail of the regulations later. I consider the act of making them to be very important, however. It is vital that we be seen to have animal welfare laws that keep pace with, rather than lag behind, those in other jurisdictions across these islands. That sends out a message that we are a progressive society that takes the right steps to implement the best possible expert advice. In that regard, the regulations represent a proportionate and necessary step forward. I have consistently made it clear that animal welfare is one of my top priorities. Enacting the legislation is the first step towards delivering the commitments set out in the animal welfare pathway. The regulations constitute practical, evidence-based reform that will help raise standards in a real and measurable way. They are not about having more bureaucracy or putting down a needless requirement on paper but about improving oversight, increasing consistency and strengthening confidence that proper standards are being upheld at the point at which animals are at their most vulnerable. The regulations will enhance our existing animal welfare law and support effective enforcement. What that in mind, I will inform the House of what the regulations will do. They will require all slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland to install and operate CCTV in all areas in which live animals are present, including unloading, lairage, handling, stunning and killing areas. Operators will have to retain footage for a minimum of 90 days and make it available, where necessary, to official veterinarians and authorised inspectors for enforcement purposes. Taken together, those requirements will create a clear and consistent framework across the sector. That matters because protecting animal welfare at the time of slaughter is a statutory obligation and a fundamental responsibility. Although the majority of slaughterhouses in Northern Ireland already operate CCTV systems, there is currently no legal requirement governing camera coverage, recording quality, retention periods or access arrangements. The regulations will directly address that gap in a way that is clear, proportionate and enforceable. It is important to recognise the broader context. England introduced mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses in 2018; Scotland followed in 2022; and Wales introduced similar legislation in 2024. Northern Ireland should not be the only UK jurisdiction without equivalent legislation. By bringing the regulations forward now, we will make sure that our framework reflects both public expectation and the standards that are in place elsewhere. Indeed, I was able to lean on the experience and findings of other UK jurisdictions to weigh up whether the legislation would deliver benefits for Northern Ireland. A review carried out by DEFRA found that stakeholders said that having CCTV promotes consistency across slaughterhouses by helping to maintain high standards. That review also showed that, in the five-year period following the introduction of the legislation, the rate of major and critical animal welfare non-compliance fell by 30%. Furthermore, requiring CCTV in all areas where live animals are present has improved oversight of processes in locations that are inaccessible or that are unsafe for direct observation. CCTV has also been used as a training and identification tool, helping officials to address issues and identify training before enforcement action is necessary. As well as identifying poor welfare practices, CCTV has enabled examples of best practice and strong technical competence to be used in operator training. Stakeholders also noted that CCTV can help operators to respond to unfounded allegations made by external parties. The case for action is reinforced by the responses to the public consultation. Support for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses is strong and clear from the consultation responses. Over 90% of respondents support the proposal, regardless of slaughterhouse size. In response to the consultation, 91% of respondents agreed with the proposal that CCTV coverage should be retained for 90 days to allow sufficient time for review and enforcement, if necessary. The consultation also showed that 77% of respondents consider the associated costs to be reasonable and proportionate. That is a significant finding. It demonstrates not only broad backing for the principle of the regulations but confidence that the approach that we are taking is balanced, workable and justified. Let me be clear: the regulations have been designed with proportionality in mind, and the Department has carefully considered the practical implications for industry. There will be a six-month implementation period before the enforcement provisions take effect, allowing operators sufficient time to make any necessary adjustments and thus ensuring orderly transition to compliance. The regulations will create specific offences, including failure to install CCTV equipment; obstructing access to CCTV recordings; and failure to provide documents or images that are required to be retained for up to 90 days. An individual who is found guilty of an offence will be subject, upon summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, which is currently £5,000. The Department will work closely with operators to support compliance. Clear guidance will be issued to assist with implementation. I assure Members that the regulations include appropriate safeguards in respect of privacy and data protection. CCTV will apply only within operational areas, and operators will remain responsible for meeting their obligations under UK GDPR requirements. In short, the regulations are sensible, balanced, targeted and overdue. They will improve oversight, strengthen enforcement and enhance animal welfare protections at a critical point in the production process. They will also provide greater assurance to the public that proper standards are being maintained and upheld. For those reasons, I commend the draft Mandatory Use of Closed Circuit Television in Slaughterhouses Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 to the Assembly and ask Members to support their approval as a necessary and proportionate step to strengthen animal welfare oversight in Northern Ireland.
1,110 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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