Slaughter in Spain -- EU complains about 'major deficiencies':

'Animal welfare conditions observed in most of the slaugherhouses visited, with suffering and injury being caused, did not comply with EU legislation'

Excerpt: Although some progress has been made since the last mission in 2003, the Spanish national or regional legislation still does not include legal provisions for sanctions on animal welfare infringements in some Autonomous communities....

As official controls on animal welfare have not been organised following documented procedures and are carried out by inadequately trained and supervised official veterinarians, major deficiencies regarding the transport of poultry, the handling of animals, the restraint of sheep and the stunning of poultry and sheep were not detected or measures were not taken to ensure that they were corrected....

Source: EU: Final report of a mission carried out in Spain from 5-9 March 2007....
Author: EU