DE — heise online
Animal welfare: only large slaughterhouses to be subject to video requirement
Policy2 min read
The German parliament passed a law that makes video cameras required in large slaughterhouses. The cameras are meant to help officials spot and check possible animal welfare violations.
What happened
On 5 November 2026, the Bundestag (Germany's federal parliament) approved a government bill on video surveillance in slaughterhouses. The change to the Animal Welfare Act takes effect on 1 January 2027. Affected businesses get one extra year to set up the technology. Only the Union and SPD parties voted for the bill. The AfD and the Greens voted against it, and the Left abstained.
Key numbers and facts
- The rule applies to plants that slaughter at least 1,000 livestock units per year, or 150,000 poultry or rabbits per year.
- Of more than 4,500 slaughter businesses in Germany, 232 must follow the new rule.
- The rule covers more than 90 percent of all slaughter in Germany.
- Businesses must give officials the footage from the last 30 slaughter days, ready every working day.
- The Greens wanted cameras in all slaughterhouses and a storage time of 60 days. Their proposal was rejected.
Why the law was needed
Official checks can usually only cover selected places and times. Large plants run many steps with live animals at the same time. Poor stunning can cause animals severe pain and suffering. The cameras should film unloading, holding, stunning, and slaughter, so officials can check what happened, even later.
Why it matters
The law comes after video showing animals being mistreated at a large Tönnies plant in Kellinghusen became public. An SPD politician, Jens Behrens, said cameras alone are not enough. They must be placed in the right spots and the footage must be checked in a systematic way. The SPD also wants artificial intelligence (AI) to help review the video. Politicians will now check how well the new rules work in practice.
What to watch
- Whether the one-year setup period is enough for businesses to install cameras.
- How officials use the footage, and whether AI tools are used to review it.
- Whether smaller plants will get camera orders when there is a suspicion of abuse.
- How the new rules work in practice, which lawmakers have said they will review.
Glossary
- Bundestag
- The German federal parliament, which passes national laws.
- Tönnies
- A large German meat company that runs big slaughterhouses, including one in Kellinghusen.