Recent Press Releases
For press enquiries contact Tracey Woods traceywoods@hsa.org.uk t 01582 831919
View or download the latest press releases from the HSA
28 March 2018
New research aims to find a more humane way to stun pigs
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) joins forces with Defra to fund key research
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has jointly funded with the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) a new two year programme of research to determine whether Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) might be a more humane way to stun pigs during commercial slaughter.
13 March 2018
HSA announces £1.7 million funding for research and development to improve the welfare of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods at slaughter
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) supports research to better understand and improve the welfare of these species at slaughter
The Humane Slaughter Association has announced up to £1.7 million of research funding to improve the welfare of farmed fish, crustaceans (eg crabs and lobsters) and cephalopods (eg octopus, cuttlefish and squid) during slaughter.
28 February 2018
Monitoring animal welfare at slaughter - new CCTV legislation
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to hold one day seminar ahead of new legislation coming into force
As legislation to make CCTV cameras mandatory in slaughterhouses in England to safeguard animal welfare starts its journey through Parliament, plans for the Humane Slaughter Association’s (HSA) seminar for the meat and livestock industry to discuss the animal welfare implications of the implementation and use of CCTV in abattoirs gathers pace.
9 February 2018
Monitoring animal welfare at slaughter - CCTV and beyond
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to hold one day seminar in May
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) will be holding a one-day seminar on Wednesday 9th May 2018 for the meat and livestock industry to discuss the animal welfare implications of the implementation and use of CCTV and other technology in abattoirs.
16 January 2018
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) develops new online guide for humane killing during disease control
As part of its strategy to promote the highest standards of welfare worldwide for food animals, the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has produced a new online guide which covers the humane killing of livestock during disease control operations.
22 September 2017 HSA to undertake livestock market survey to evaluate animal welfare provisions in place
Survey marks 200th anniversary of first purpose-built livestock market
200 years ago this year an important milestone in the history of the UK’s meat and livestock industry was made, with the opening of the first purpose built livestock market in Hawick, Scotland.
11 July 2017 HSA commits to new research and development to improve the welfare of pigs at slaughter
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) joins forces with Defra to fund research into a more humane stunning method for pigs
The Humane Slaughter Association and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) are jointly offering up to £400,000 of research funding for a project to develop a more humane way to stun pigs during commercial slaughter.
28 June 2017 Recognition for pioneering work to improve the welfare of food animals
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the joint winners of its 2017 Humane Slaughter Award. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter, transport or killing for disease control, has been given to Mr Peter Kettlewell and Professor Malcolm Mitchell of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in recognition of the developments they have made in improving the welfare of food animals during transportation.
24 March 2017 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) funds project to assess CCTV in slaughterhouses
The HSA is pleased to announce that it has made a grant award to Ellie Wigham, a PhD student at the University of Bristol for her project “Analysis of the use of CCTV data to monitor and improve slaughter plant welfare in the US – what can we learn from our American friends?”
8 February 2017 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) develops new online training resource
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has produced a model syllabus on animal welfare at slaughter, which references HSA publications and training materials.
10 November 2016 Seminar on Welfare of Animals at the Time Of Killing (WATOK) Regulations
On the 12th of October some 100 people involved in the slaughter industry attended the HSA WATOK One-Year-On seminar held in the East Midlands. Delegates came from across the UK to discuss the challenges faced since the new Welfare at the Time Of Killing (WATOK) regulations were introduced in England in November 2015.
8 July 2016 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) announces 2016 Award Winner
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2016 Humane Slaughter Award. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter, transport or killing for disease control, has been given to Professor Neville Gregory in recognition of the developments and technological developments he has made over 37 years which have led to significant and considerable advances in humane slaughter.
22 April 2016 HSA assists Chinese vets with poultry welfare
Following a presentation on the welfare of poultry at slaughter to the 5th Chinese Veterinary Conference, the HSA was asked by the editor of China Animal Health Inspection - the leading national journal of the Ministry of Agriculture of China - to write a paper for Chinese vets on poultry welfare at slaughter.
21 April 2016 Guidance notes on electrical waterbath stunning of poultry translated into French
The HSA’s Guidance Notes No 7 on Electrical Waterbath Stunning of Poultry are now available in French following a request by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry.
28 October 2015 New guidance from the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA)
A new online technical information poster has been added to the HSA’s series of information and guides to best practice in the handling and slaughter of livestock and poultry. The posters can be used for quick reference in the work place or during training to help ensure best practice.
26 October 2015 HSA online guides now available in Spanish and Chinese
The HSA has long been recognised internationally for being a knowledgeable and practical organisation, with a sound understanding of livestock and livestock handling. Now, as part of its role to promote the highest standards of welfare for food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter, the HSA has had its informative online e-learning series translated into Spanish and Chinese.
4 September 2015 Poultry producers' assistance required
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) would like to hear from any poultry producers who are dispatching farmed poultry with free-bullet weapons (particularly air-powered) using a head shot to destroy the brain instantaneously.
Whilst the use of free-bullet weapons for humanely killing poultry has not previously been a recommended technique, it might, if reliably successful, provide an alternative humane method for small-scale producers to slaughter poultry for direct supply to local consumers or retailers, or to kill sick/injured birds.
4 September 2015 HSA releases new guidance notes on electrical waterbath stunning of poultry
New publication provides comprehensive guidance for a variety of personnel working with live birds to optimise welfare during waterbath slaughter
As part of its work to promote the highest standards of welfare for food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter, and following ongoing research into bird welfare during electrical waterbath stunning of poultry, the Humane Slaughter Association has published new guidance notes.
18 August 2015 HSA presents award for significant advances in humane slaughter
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has presented its 2015 award for significant advances in humane slaughter to the Danish Meat Research Institute (DMRI).
The award, made annually by the HSA, recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock. This year’s award was presented to DMRI during the HSA’s international symposium held recently in Zagreb, Croatia.
8 June 2015 HSA announces two Research Training Scholarships
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the awarding of two Research Training Scholarships, each for three-year research projects, at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the University of Bristol respectively. The research will focus on two important areas for the advancement of humane slaughter of cattle and of turkeys, ducks and geese, with potentially very significant benefits to producers and to animal welfare.
7 May 2015 A signficant step forward for animal welfare: `The changing role of the Animal Welfare Officer in the light of EC Regulation 1099/2009'
The new requirements relating to the appointment, training and certification of Animal Welfare Officers in meat production operations, contained in EU Regulation EC 1099/2009, and soon to be implemented in England, were described as a significant step forward for animal welfare at a recent meeting entitled ‘The changing role of the Animal Welfare Officer in the light of EC Regulation 1099/2009’ organised by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to discuss the requirements and implementation of the legislation.
9 February 2015 HSA announces Programme for International Symposium
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has published the full programme of speakers for the upcoming HSA International Symposium being held in Zagreb, Croatia, in July. There will be 31 presentations over the two-day event, covering a wide range of topics relevant to the welfare of food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter or killing.
22 January 2015 Animal Welfare Officer Seminar
A one-day seminar for the meat and livestock industry on “The changing role of the animal welfare officer in the light of EC 1099/2009” is to be held by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) on Wednesday 29th April 2015.
19 January 2015 HSA Dorothy Sidley Scholars present their work
Two of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholars presented their work at the 16th annual UFAW/HSA Animal Welfare Student Scholars Meeting which took place recently at the University of Newcastle.
14 January 2015 Promoting humane animal handling and slaughter in Liberia
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has funded a six-month project in Liberia to promote humane methods of slaughter and handling of animals in markets and during transportation. The project, delivered by the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS) received funding through the HSA’s Grants Scheme.
6 October 2014 Online guide to humane harvesting of fish
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has added a new title to its series of Online Guides freely available to view and download at its website (www.hsa.org.uk).
2 October 2014 HSA invites applications for the 2015 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2015 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.
26 September 2014 On-farm slaughter of poultry training course
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is teaching a poultry welfare training course ‘On-farm slaughter of poultry’ at Plumpton College, East Sussex, on 19 November 2014.
24 September 2014 Applications invited for the HSA 2015 Humane Slaughter Award
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its prestigious 2015 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.
22 September 2014 Humane Slaughter Association invites applications for Animal Welfare Research Training (PhD) Scholarship
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications from veterinary or science graduates for its 2015 Research Training Scholarship to enable a three-year programme of research leading to a degree at the doctorate level.
6 August 2014 International Symposium announced by the Humane Slaughter Association
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is to hold an International Symposium on recent advances in food animal welfare during transport, marketing and slaughter on the 16th and 17th July 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia.
15 July 2014 HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2014 award for significant advances in humane slaughter. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock, has been given to Dr Bert Lambooij DVM of the Animal Science Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands.
05 March 2014 Two new online guides from the Humane Slaughter Association
Two new titles, 'Humane Handling of Livestock' and 'Emergency Slaughter', have been added to the HSA’s series of Online Guides to best practice in the handling and slaughter of livestock and poultry.
22 January 2014 Charles Mason receives AMI Award
Charles Mason, Technical Director of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), has received the Robin Irish Award from the Association of Meat Inspectors (AMI).
26 November 2013 New DVD addresses animal welfare needs in road traffic accidents
A new training DVD has been produced in conjunction with the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) intended for emergency personnel responding to road traffic incidents involving farm animal transport vehicles.
18 October 2013 HSA invites applications for the 2014 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2014 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.
14 October 2013 New stunning method may significantly improve animal welfare
11 October 2013 Applications invited for the HSA 2014 Humane Slaughter Award
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its 2014 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.
10 July 2013 HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter
The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2013 award for significant advances in humane slaughter. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock, was won by the IRTA/UAB Animal Welfare Research Group, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
30 April 2013 On-line guide to stunning now available
New on-line guides to ‘Electrical stunning of red meat animals’ and ‘Captive-bolt stunning of livestock’ have been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and are now available for viewing and free download.
11 March 2013 HSA Director awarded Associate Fellowship of Royal Agricultural Societies
Charles Mason, Technical Director of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), has been awarded an Associate Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in recognition of his ‘distinguished achievement in agriculture and land based industries’.
28 January 2013 New on-line guide to the slaughter of poultry
An on-line guide to the humane slaughter of poultry has been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and is now available for viewing and free download on the Association’s website.
24 January 2013 New legislation: the implications for slaughterhouses
New legislation intended to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter came into effect on 1 January 2013. The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has made freely downloadable information available on its website which describes the key points of the new legislation and the implications for slaughterhouses and knackers’ yards.
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