Friday 10 February 2012

It's time to ask Australian butchers and supermarkets where they are sourcing the meat you buy

 

As the NSW abattoir currently in the news for alleged animal cruelty apparently slaughters for domestic consumption only, here is a brief outline for ethical consumers.

The Sydney Morning Herald 10 February 2012:

A SYDNEY abattoir has stopped slaughtering and faces closure and prosecution after hidden-camera footage of chilling animal cruelty emerged.

The NSW Food Authority ordered the immediate halt yesterday to slaughter at the Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors at Wilberforce, in Sydney's west, after seeing undercover footage apparently taken by a worker at the abattoir.

''This is one of the worst cases I've seen in an abattoir of animal cruelty,'' said Peter Day, a spokesman for the authority. The footage, recorded over six days at the end of last month, shows workers mistreating sheep, cattle, pigs and goats….

The Telegraph 10 February 2012:

It is believed Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors provided the footage to authorities after becoming aware animal rights activists had provided it to a media outlet.

Department of Primary Industries NSW Food Authority 9 February 2012 media release Slaughtering at Sydney abattoir stopped:  

Action by the NSW Food Authority today has led to the shut down of slaughtering at a Sydney abattoir. This follows the Authority examining disturbing video footage of acts of gross animal mistreatment.

The video shows the slaughter of sheep, cattle, goats and pigs that allegedly breaches the Food Regulation 2010 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979.

Australian standards under the Food Regulation 2010 require that "animals are slaughtered in a way that prevents unnecessary injury, pain and suffering to them and causes them the least practical disturbance."

A full investigation of slaughter practices at the site is now underway, which involves the RSPCA.

Non compliance of food and animal welfare laws is taken extremely seriously.

The welfare of animals in NSW is protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTA) 1979 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation which are overseen by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Under POCTA fines of up to $110,000 or two years imprisonment apply for acts of aggravated acts of cruelty to animals.

The NSW Food Authority regulates abattoirs in NSW.

All abattoirs operating in NSW are required to hold a licence and operate in accordance with the Food Regulation 2010. Abattoirs are required to comply with the NSW Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption.

https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/downloads/07-183

Extracted from ASIC's database at AEST 06:45:33 on 10/02/2012

 

Name

HAWKESBURY VALLEY MEAT PROCESSORS PTY LTD

ACN

119 318 295

ABN

53 119 318 295

Type

Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares

Registration Date

19/04/2006

Next Review Date

19/04/2012

Status

Registered

Locality of Registered Office

Mona Vale NSW 2103

Jurisdiction

Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Directors of this company appear to include Glenn Langley and Ronald Winston Langley of R W Langley Wholesale Meat Pty Ltd

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