Day 066 - 14 Dec 94 - Page 28
1 dated 25th November 1992, right?
2 A. That is correct.
3
4 Q. There is a whole series of similar documents. We will go
5 quickly through them. What I would like to know is what
6 exactly they are, these documents?
7 A. This documents represent what a summary of the
8 conditions that are described in the Humane Slaughter Act
9 that we would use to get an idea of, we following to verify
10 our practices in relation to welfare of animals around the
11 world.
12
13 Q. So who is it who has actually filled in? Is it a sort of a
14 questionnaire? Can I describe it like that?
15 A. Yes, it is a questionnaire that is completed by the
16 country Purchasing Manager that we have in each country.
17
18 Q. So it would be the McDonald's person in Moscow, to take the
19 first one, who would be responsible for the getting the
20 answers ---
21 A. That is correct.
22
23 Q. -- to the questionnaire and sending them back to you?
24 A. That is correct.
25
26 Q. I do not think we have all the countries in the world in
27 here, but we do have a fairly wide selection. Can we just
28 have a look at them very briefly? I want to concentrate
29 mostly on the method of stunning. But, looking at the
30 Moscow one, first of all, one notices that they are all in
31 the form of questions; is that right?
32 A. That is correct.
33
34 Q. You tell us I think that these requirements or questions,
35 whatever you like, are taken from the Humane Slaughter Act?
36 A. That is correct.
37
38 Q. We see, for example, in this Moscow one -- I am sorry, they
39 are not numbered -- just under halfway down there is a
40 question: "Are animals protected from the cold or hot
41 environment prior to slaughter?" "Yes". Then it says:
42 "Are electric prods used properly to move" and it says
43 "(not more than 50 volts, battery operated) to move cattle
44 and hogs?" The answer is: "Yes". Can I ask you question
45 about prods. How widespread is the use of electric prods
46 or goads for cattle and pigs in the world?
47 A. I would say it varies throughout the world, but in
48 general one can assume that it is a fairly widespread
49 practice.
50
51 Q. Do you know what sort of a trauma, if I can use that word,
52 the goad causes in the animal?
53 A. Yes, I do.
54
55 Q. Is it possible to convert that into human terms so as to
56 give us an idea of whether it is a painful shock or a prick
57 or an absolutely terrifying thing?
58 A. Yes, we can describe it.
59
60 Q. Will you do that for us, please?
