Day 289 - 29 Oct 96 - Page 27


     
     1
     2   MS. STEEL:   Yes.
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   And it was with that in mind that he advised
     5        the ramps so that they get dragged up the ramp and then
     6        fall into the -----
     7
     8   MS. STEEL:   Stun bath.
     9
    10   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  ---- the stun bath.
    11
    12   MS. STEEL:   Yes.  If you want to check the Codes of Practice,
    13        there is a reference to it on day 20, page 5, line 28 of
    14        the transcript and it refers to tab H.  I think that is
    15        behind Dr. Gregory's statement, page 316.  And the Codes of
    16        Practice for the Welfare of Poultry at Slaughter, which is
    17        produced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
    18        states:  "Faults leading to birds receiving pre-stun shocks
    19        are unacceptable and must be corrected".  And obviously
    20        that is the Codes of Practice set up by MAFF, which can
    21        hardly be said to have a bias towards the welfare of the
    22        animals.
    23
    24   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I do not know whether I accept that.
    25
    26   MS. STEEL:   Obviously they cannot be said to ignore the
    27        commercial considerations.  They are hardly an organisation
    28        that is like an animal welfare body.  They are about the
    29        marketing and selling of -- the producing and marketing and
    30        selling ----
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  MAFF has people from all sorts of
    33        disciplines, each looking at problems ----
    34
    35   MS. STEEL:   Yes, I am not saying they do not have any concern
    36        for animal welfare.  I am saying that it is not like it is
    37        a sort of animal welfare body that is just putting, you
    38        know, the welfare point of view.  The whole point is, it is
    39        all about the business side.
    40
    41   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I would have thought in that instance they
    42        are putting entirely the welfare point of view.  No doubt
    43        it is the right point of view in relation to them.  They
    44        are not saying more than so and so, more than so many
    45        percent, are they?  They are just saying 'pre-stun shocks
    46        are unacceptable'.  No commercial consideration at all
    47        there.
    48
    49   MS. STEEL:   That is basically because there are obviously
    50        systems available where there do not have to be shocks. 
    51        But, I mean, in other areas, if there are not necessarily 
    52        methods available, you know, on another part of the process 
    53        which do not impinge on the welfare of the animals, then
    54        they would say go ahead with it anyway.  The point I am
    55        making is that this is from the map, and they are not
    56        taking any notice of that even.  (Pause)
    57
    58   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Is there really anything more to be said
    59        about pre-stun shocks?   I mean, you have made your point
    60        in relation to that.  Is there anything more you want to

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