Historical Bill Passed To Monitor Slaughterhouse Practices And Workers For Animal Cruelty

The decision to pass this historical bill to monitor slaughterhouse practices and workers for animal cruelty was due to investigations by animal rights organizations revealling shocking slaughterhouse scenes. Of course, the decisison of the French government to start implementing this law by July 2017 placing cameras in 263 slaughterhouses was followed by an outrageous cry of agricultural workers resulting in dumping truckloads of manure, burning tires and even hanging pigs. Animals rights advocates hope that this bill is not only going to make transparency law but to also open the eyes of the public towards the suffering of animals and encouraging people to dramatically take meat off their plates and to adopt a plant-based diet instead.

The French national assembly passed a bill for mandatory cameras in slaughterhouses today. The controversial measure, to be implemented in 2018, follows a remarkable intensification of public outcry after a series of shocking undercover investigations were released to the French media by local animal rights organization L214. The vote to monitor slaughterhouse practices and workers for animal cruelty, safety and hygiene violations passed 28 to 4 (opponents of the bill were from the right and center political parties).

Before it is brought to the senate in March to be debated and voted into law, the measure will be implemented first (by July 2017) through “experimentation,” in 263 slaughterhouses, placing cameras in all areas where animals are “moved, held, immobilized, stunned and killed.”

Stakeholders, including animal protection professionals, slaughterhouse management and government officials might have “limited” access to the footage to determine how to craft the final legislation. Animal protection advocates are preparing for an uphill battle ahead of debate in Parliament against the dominant agriculture lobby, a major economic sector in France.

According to a study conducted by IFOP, the French government public opinion institute, 85 percent of French citizens approve of video surveillance in slaughterhouses.

Animal rights advocates pitted against “ailing” agricultural workers

The French government, subtly bending to pressure from powerful animal agriculture lobby groups, wants the “initial opportunity to evaluate the current conditions” ahead of passing a final legislation brought forth by socialist Olivier Falorni, titled “respect for the animal in slaughterhouses law.”

During the debate session earlier today, Minister of Agriculture Stephane LeFoll invoked the “farmers’ crisis” and “respect for slaughterhouse workers” in order to assuage the growing anger of agricultural workers — men who have indulged in media-hungry stunts by dumping truckloads of manure in front of ministries, blocking traffic with trucks, burning tires and hanging pigs from highway overpasses. The agriculture unions are pushing for further government relief for “Made in France” meat and dairy products while they battle waning meat sales, low milk and meat prices and push for higher wages, higher prices and an end to “unfair” competition from other countries. Animal rights, environmental and progressive healthcare advocates want an end to meat and dairy government subsidies and want public money to be spent promoting the production of sustainable, healthy, plant based food.

The French government, subtly bending to pressure from powerful animal agriculture lobby groups, wants the “initial opportunity to evaluate the current conditions” ahead of passing a final legislation brought forth by socialist Olivier Falorni, titled “respect for the animal in slaughterhouses law.”

Read the full article at medium.com!