The Humane Slaughter Association held its first webinar on the 28th April 2021. Entitled Slaughter of livestock – keeping it close to home the presentations covered why abattoirs are closing, the advantages and disadvantages of small and mobile abattoirs, practical considerations of mobile slaughter units and the challenges and opportunities for small abattoirs from the point of view of a small abattoir operator.

In a recent consultation on the regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) produced by genome editing (GE) or other genetic technologies, DEFRA* made a distinction between genetic changes that could have been developed using traditional breeding methods and those that could not.  However, the use of traditional breeding methods as a benchmark for what is and what is not acceptable is neither useful, nor scientifically logical.

UFAW is pleased to see that the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) recommends a ban on the use of glue traps in its recently published report on the use of rodent glue traps in Scotland.

The HSA is one of the NGOs regularly asked by Government and other organisations, including industry, to scrutinize and comment on various subjects; the main ones being new legislation, proposed changes to existing legislation and welfare at slaughter standards.