28 French MPs voted in favour of the measure (Picture: Getty Images/Metro.co.uk)

French parliament has just voted to make it compulsory to have CCTV cameras installed in slaughterhouses.

The proposed law, which will come into force from 2018, come after a year of disturbing revelations about the horrific conditions in abattoirs.

Should slaughterhouses be made to have CCTV cameras fitted?

In 2016, France’s 1,000 or so slaughterhouses came under intense criticism after animal rights activist groups managed to film and publish footage of workers killing animals without stunning them first.

If the law passes, the authorities would install video cameras in all areas of the abattoir where live animals are handled.


This means there would be surveillance during transport, stabling and stunning.

Animal rights activists protest in France (Picture: Getty Images)

Footage would be held for one month, and only vets and animal welfare inspectors would be able to view it.



Some 28 French MPs voted in favour of the new law, whereas only four opposed it.

However, although the vote passed in a first reading, it must still clear the French Senate before it officially becomes law.