Black Country slaughterhouse charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty after chickens 'kicked and thrown' across the floor
A slaughterhouse in Halesowen is being prosecuted for multiple counts of animal cruelty after employees allegedly kicked and threw live birds.
Munir Bros Halal Poultry Ltd, Long Lane, Halesowen, is being prosecuted by Dudley Council for allegedly contravening food and safety regulations.
The company appeared at Birmingham Magistrates Court charged with 20 cases of animal cruelty in January and February 2023.
Charges include contravening the regulation 'which prohibits the striking or kicking of animals, in that a plant operative kicked birds' and did not ensure 'every animal was moved with care as plant operatives tipped birds out of crates' and 'dropped a crate containing live birds from a height with force onto the ground'.
Another charge relates to February 7, 2023, when 'in that plant operatives threw birds without care from crates to the floor', according to the charge.
And on January 30, 2023, the company is accused of not following procedures laid down for the transport and killing of birds to avoid the animals distress and pain, also 'the role of the animal welfare officer were not followed'.
On February 4, 2023, the company allegedly did not ensure 'that every animal was moved with care, in that a plant operative grabbed birds by their wing to remove them from crates and threw them to the floor, contrary to The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015'.
The company has yet to enter a plea concerning the charges due to the case being adjourned several times, including one because the defendant did not attend.
The case was first heard in April last year, and then was adjourned due to none-attendance in September last year and then partly heard on December 20, last year.
The case will next be heard before District Judge Wayne Brown at Birmingham Magistrates Court on April 1.
Due to flagrant disregard of animal welfare in the past a series of tough regulations concerning the slaughterhouse industry were passed in the last 20 years.
The 2015 Animal Welfare Act requires companies to follow strict procedures concerning the transport and killing of all animals which are part of the food chain.
Munir Bros Halal Poultry Ltd was formed in 2015 and specialises in supplying whole chickens. The slaughterhouse is attached to a supermarket.
The company has been fully certified by the UK Halal Monitoring Committee.