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Slaughterhouses: Fines

Asked by Sir John HayesConservativeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 5 June 2026UIN 5295

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many slaughterhouses have been fined for contravening welfare of animals at the time of killing in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson

The following table shows the number of convictions secured against the business operators of slaughterhouses or plant operatives working in approved slaughterhouses for offences under the welfare of animals at the time of killing, in the last 10 years:

Year

Prosecution cases

Business operators convicted

Plant operatives convicted

2016

4

3

2

2017

2

2

0

2018

3

1

7

2019

1

1

4

2020

1

0

1

2021

3

1

6

2022

4

2

2

2023

4

3

8

2024

4

3

3

2025

1

0

3

In addition, the following table shows the number of convictions resulting in fines against the business operators of slaughterhouses for offences concerning failures in hygiene standards, in the same period:

Year

Slaughterhouse operators

2016

8

2017

1

2018

3

2019

5

2020

1

2021

1

2022

2

2023

0

2024

5

2025

1

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