Day 101 - 10 Mar 95 - Page 40

     
     1        animal welfare.  There is a section on quality assurance in
     2        general that says that the quality assurance programmes are
     3        essential and need to be formulated with the Quality
     4        Assurance Department.  Those could possibly cover welfare
     5        issues, but it is not written as a separate section into
     6        our finished product specifications.
     7
     8   Q.   When you say there is a section on quality assurance in
     9        general, where is that?  What are you talking about?  Is
    10        that something in the specification?
    11        A.  Yes, one of the sections of the specification, for
    12        instance, that we have been discussing previously was the
    13        microbiological specification that was under one section.
    14        There is another section that says under quality assurance
    15        that the supplier needs to formulate in discussion with the
    16        appropriate McDonald's Quality Assurance Department an
    17        effective comprehensive quality assurance programme.
    18
    19   Q.   Which is not about animal welfare; you have nothing
    20        specifically laying down the line about how you think that
         animals should be reared saying: "We will not take your
    22        supplies if you stock over this density or if you do not
    23        use this method" or anything in like that?
    24        A.  You are correct, that is not in our finished product
    25        specification.
    26
    27   Q.   Did you specify that companies supplying beef to McKey's
    28        should not be using goads?
    29        A.  That was a McDonald's -- when you say "you" do you mean
    30        McDonald's or me personally?
    31
    32   Q.   McDonald's?
    33        A.  It was a McDonald's thing, yes, that was decided by our
    34        senior European quality assurance group.
    35
    36   Q.   Why was that?
    37        A.  I was not party to that decision, but I assume it is a
    38        welfare issue.
    39
    40   Q.   Were you aware that some of the suppliers of beef to
         McKey's are using goads?
    42        A.  No.  They should not be using goads -- well, they
    43        certainly should not be using goads for the beef that is
    44        used for McDonald's.
    45
    46   Q.   So, McKey have not told you that their suppliers are using
    47        goads?
    48        A.  No.  In fact I think it is one of the checks that they
    49        do on their visits.  I think it is actually written into
    50        their audit form now. 
    51 
    52   Q.   Because you trust them, you presume they would tell you if 
    53        one of their suppliers was using goads was not conforming
    54        to what you have asked them?
    55        A.  If they discovered the fact they would inform my
    56        department, yes.
    57
    58   Q.   You assume?
    59        A.  Yes, I do assume.
    60