Review the National Animal Welfare Standards at Livestock Processing Establishments

Summary

The red meat processing sector must ensure that community expectations (nationally, internationally) and legal obligations (nationally, internationally) for the welfare of animals are met for all meat intended for human consumption. In 2005, the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) developed national animal welfare standards (National Animal Welfare Standards at Livestock Processing Establishments) in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries Victoria and several other key stakeholder organisations (industry, welfare and science). These standards were designed to reflect the key requirements of the Code of Practice and also all other animal welfare provisions reflected in the Australian Standard for the Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption. These Standards have not been reviewed since their introduction in 2005. With growing concerns in Animal Welfare domestically and internationally, it is timely the Standards be reviewed to ensure they are both practical, relevant and deliver good animal welfare outcomes.
The project objective was to review and, if necessary, revise the National Animal Welfare Standards at Livestock Processing Establishments in collaboration with a reconstituted management group (as used when the Standard was first developed). The Standard is available for download from the Australian Meat Industry Council website and hardcopies were also printed for use in the industry.