Man fined for illegal slaughterhouse
Farmers have been warned to ensure animal by-products and carcasses are disposed of correctly after a man was fined £6,000 for operating an illegal slaughterhouse on a farm in Wales.
A joint operation by Powys County Council’s Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers and the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory Agency (AHVLA) and local police uncovered the unlicensed facility, which included two outbuildings equipped and used for slaughter and butchery operations.
Officers found sheep heads and slaughtering equipment in one barn, as well as a walk-in chiller full of carcasses and prepared boxed meat in another. Also in the room were meat cleavers, knives, wooden chopping blocks, a commercial sausage-making machine, a commercial mincer and weighing scales.
The man pleaded guilty to two charges under Food Hygiene Regulations involving the operation of an unlicensed slaughterhouse, including producing and placing on the market food unsafe for human consumption. He was also fined for two separate offences under the Animal By-Products Regulations.
“This sends a reminder to the agricultural community that they have a duty to ensure that animal carcasses and by-products are disposed of in the correct manner,” said Councillor Barry Thomas, cabinet member responsible for environmental health and trading standards.
“Meat intended to be sold for human consumption must, by law, be processed through a licensed slaughterhouse to safeguard animal welfare and protect public health. Anyone who runs a food business must register with the council, so our environmental health officers can work with them to ensure food hygiene is being managed properly.”