The proposed law aims to ramp up controls in France’s nearly 1,000 slaughterhouses, which came under intense scrutiny in 2016 after activist groups — most notably L214 — published footage of a number of slaughterhouses killing animals without stunning them first, reported Politico.

Twenty eight French MPs voted in favor of the rules, while four opposed them. The vote passed in a first reading but must still clear the French Senate before becoming law.

The new bill will require slaughterhouses to install CCTV cameras across all areas, including in lairages and on the killing floor, by 2018.

A trial will take place this year to inform how the technology will be rolled out across the board.

Those caught inflicting unlawful cruelty on animals will face one year in prison.

Following the move by the French government, UK animal protection organisation Animal Aid called on the British government to bring forward similar measures in the UK.

In a press release, Animal Aid said it has uncovered unlawful practices being conducted in 9 out of 10 UK abattoirs that it has investigated.

Animal Aid said the Food Standards Agency, alongside a cross-party representation of more than 200 MPs and the British Veterinary Association (BVA), now support mandatory CCTV. However, a recent report for the Welsh government concluded that there was not a “sufficient basis” for making CCTV in Welsh abattoirs mandatory.