British Veterinary Association warns of UK abattoir decline

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has warned that the United Kingdom has lost approximately 90% of its abattoirs since the 1970s, a trend that poses significant risks to animal welfare and national biosecurity.

BVA President Dr. Gwen Rees stated that abattoirs serve as critical points for detecting notifiable diseases. A reduction in these facilities results in fewer opportunities for animal health and disease surveillance, which is essential for early threat identification and rapid response to outbreaks.

Beyond disease control, the decline impacts animal welfare by potentially increasing the length and complexity of journeys animals must take before slaughter. The Sustain coalition and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare have joined calls for urgent government intervention to protect this infrastructure, arguing that further closures could undermine food security, economic growth, and the stability of the British farming sector.