The Food Standards Agency has revoked the operating licence of West Midlands-based T&S Abattoirs, following an exposé claiming a series of animal welfare breaches at the site.
The non-stun slaughterhouse had been the subject of an undercover investigation by Joey Carbstrong, an animal rights activist and filmmaker.
Carbstrong released footage in March from July 2024 using hidden cameras which “documented systemic and repeated violations of animal welfare laws”.
His investigation revealed five key categories of alleged illegal activity including extreme rough handling of sheep, ineffective mechanical restraining equipment, hoisting and dismembering of sheep while still conscious, failure to observe the mandatory 20-second stun-to-slaughter delay, and a lack of systemic checks for consciousness and death.
In the wake of the revocation of its FSA licence, Carbstrong claimed the regulator had “only acted after we made the horrific abuse public”.
“FSA officials were present at the facility during our investigation and as far as we are aware, did very little to prevent the suffering of the animals,” he claimed.
“Of course, we are pleased that an establishment involved in the systematic abuse of animals has had its licence revoked, but let’s not be under any illusion – without our investigation, this facility would still be torturing and killing sheep,” said Carbstrong.
However, the FSA this week rebuffed Carbstrong’s claims, stressing it had already taken “a substantial amount of action” prior to the footage coming to light, which would now be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.
“We had already increased official presence, continuing to work on site so improvements could be made,” an FSA spokesperson told The Grocer.
“We identified and appropriately enforced animal welfare failures including the removal of certificates of competence, which demonstrates that where we identify breaches, they are fully investigated, and we do not hesitate to take action in order to protect high animal welfare standards.”
The agency added it was continuing to work with the police, who are carrying out their own investigation, and the local authority.
“Wherever we conduct investigations, regardless of the method used, the pattern is clear: animals suffer needlessly in all slaughterhouses,” said Carbstrong. “The only true solution lies in strong legal protections against animal exploitation and a widespread shift toward a plant-based diet.”
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