Australian Food Group admits responsibility for animal welfare breaches at pig abattoir

A Victorian abattoir that was charged over its pig slaughtering methods, after activists released footage from inside the facility, has accepted responsibility for animal welfare breaches.

Australian Food Group was charged with two counts of breaching Victoria's Meat Industry Act in October 2023 by meat industry regulator PrimeSafe, after farm activist group The Farm Transparency Project shared video footage from the company's abattoir.

The animal activist group early last year released images of pigs undergoing carbon dioxide gassing prior to slaughter.

The footage was obtained from inside three abattoirs after the group allegedly broke into the facilities.

One of these facilities was Australian Food Group (AFG) in Laverton, in Melbourne's west.

Animals Australia filed a complaint with PrimeSafe about the footage taken at AFG, sparking an investigation into what it described as "serious and disturbing allegations" of mistreatment of animals.

Abattoir hands in licence

Days later, AFG ceased operating as an abattoir, and in October 2023, PrimeSafe revealed that the company had given notice in May that it "intended to cancel its licence to operate as an abattoir".

 

 

The company was charged in October, and faced preliminary hearings in the Sunshine Magistrates' Court last year.

On Friday it was revealed AFG had accepted a diversion program, which involves the company acknowledging responsibility for the offending and agreeing to abide by set conditions, which includes paying PrimeSafe's court costs.

If the conditions are met, AFG will no longer face charges, which could have resulted in a criminal conviction.

"Prosecution sends a message that meat processors are expected to comply with all licence conditions, including those that relate to animal welfare," said PrimeSafe chief executive Michael Coffey.

AFG was contacted for comment.

The regulator also investigated the treatment of pigs at CA Sinclair Pty Ltd abattoir in Benalla, and demanded work practices and equipment changes at the company, including the installation of CCTV.

Activists target pig processing

The Farm Transparency Project spokesman Chris Delforce said he was disappointed with the outcome, saying PrimeSafe was "shirking their responsibility".

He said his group's actions were justified because "there's simply no other way that this issue would see the light of day".

"It's unfortunately up to people like us to risk our freedom, to risk our safety and go in and get that footage so that consumers can see for themselves what they're paying for," he said.

He claims the charges laid did not address the "bigger issue, which is the use of carbon dioxide gassing".

"[Which] is arguably against the law and has never been an acceptable way to kill pigs, but PrimeSafe is completely avoiding that issue," he said.

Eighty-five per cent of Australian pigs are stunned before slaughter by being lowered into a carbon dioxide (CO2) gas solution before they are killed and butchered, with the industry saying there are few other affordable alternatives.

Australian Pork Limited says the practice is legal and considered best practice by Australia's pork industry and countries such as the United States.

However Mr Delforce says this claim will be tested as Animals Australia last year launched a case against Benalla abattoir CA Sinclair and PrimeSafe in the Supreme Court over the use of gas stunning.

In its court documents, Animals Australia says the practice "causes pigs unnecessary injury, pain and suffering and is accordingly unlawful", claiming it breaches the Australian standard for handling pigs.

PrimeSafe was contacted for comment and declined ABC's request for further details or an interview.