News
FVO states: Belgium should improve pig welfare 11 Jan 2010
Belgium should better maintain animal welfare legislation, a recent report by the European Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) concludes. In both pig and poultry facilities, shortcomings have been noted.
The FVO visited Belgium in May last year and attended inspections at several pig and poultry production sites and slaughterhouses. The objective of the mission was to verify that official controls are carried out in accordance with the multi-annual national control plan (MANCP).
Area requirements
Predominantly area requirements were neglected in several farms. Repetitively, too many layer hens were put in cages and in pigs, troughs were counted as surface area, although this practice is not allowed.
In addition, the FVO audit found that surgical operations like beak clipping, tail docking and tooth clipping were not performed in accordance with the rules. In pigs, chains were considered to be proper ‘toys’ – which should not be the case according to European guidelines. In addition, ill or wounded animals were sometimes left to suffer whereas euthanising would have been better.
Irregularities
When irregularities were found, Belgian inspectors often turned a blind eye, while they ought not to have done so, the FVO writes. In case a report of the control was made, often a fixed timeframe to solve the irregularity was missing.
In addition, FVO inspectors criticised controls on animal transport and slaughter. Especially in poultry transports, too many animals were uploaded in trucks. Controls to driving and resting times were insufficient, as well as the controls to ventilation and feed and water supplies.
In addition, FVO inspectors criticised controls on animal transport and slaughter. Especially in poultry transports, too many animals were uploaded in trucks. Controls to driving and resting times were insufficient, as well as the controls to ventilation and feed and water supplies.
Slaughter
Animal welfare during slaughter – and especially stunning efficiency – had not been improved in comparison to the last FVO inspection in 2006. Belgian inspectors had failed to notice the malfunctioning of a water bath stunning method at a poultry slaughterhouse.
The audit report says: “The report concludes that there have been improvements noted in official controls on the farm animal welfare sector since the last mission on this topic in 2006. However, enforcement action in the laying hen sector is not bringing about the required improvements regarding overstocking of cages and enforcement of non-compliances in the pig sector is not consistent.”
Other FVO checks include Italy, Switzerland, Argentina and China.
Related website:
More News
- 16 Mar 2010UK migrant workers being exploited
- 16 Mar 2010Meat taskforces tackle big issues
- 16 Mar 2010Processor & retailer face class-action suit
- 15 Mar 2010Smithfield results tops estimates
- 15 Mar 2010Canada wasnt meeting USDA standards
- 15 Mar 2010Russian meat production to rise 6%
- 12 Mar 2010BSE cow delays Canada's OIE status
- 12 Mar 2010US aims to increase pork exports
- 12 Mar 2010Inspection cuts raise concerns
- 11 Mar 2010Slight drop in Brazilian beef exports
- 11 Mar 2010Customs union may raise EU pork imports
- 11 Mar 2010Shopper cards help trace salmonella
- 10 Mar 2010Russian processor to invest US$100 million
- 10 Mar 2010Govnt gives 75-million to beef industry
- 10 Mar 2010British retailers use misleading labels
- 09 Mar 2010FDA to prosecute more food execs
- 09 Mar 2010Uruguay sheep exports to Russia rise
- 09 Mar 2010Beef imports to Korea to increase 33%
- 08 Mar 2010Govnt will do risk study on beef imports
- 08 Mar 2010US to launch probe of big agriculture
- 08 Mar 201030 million Euro for new Polish slaughterhouse
- 05 Mar 2010US wholesale pork prices rise
- 05 Mar 2010Australia struggles to satisfy Korean demand
- 05 Mar 2010US hopes to re-start pork exports
- 04 Mar 2010Unsafe slaughterhouse practices
- 04 Mar 2010Lamb exports worth over 100 mln Pounds
- 04 Mar 2010Russia may be forced to increase imports
- 03 Mar 2010African swine fever threatens Eastern Europe
- 03 Mar 2010India's dairy industry wants end to meat subsidies
- 03 Mar 2010More abattoir and processor closures imminent
- 02 Mar 2010British pork groups to focus on climate
- 02 Mar 2010Russia to simplify EU import procedures
- 02 Mar 2010Pork sector hope for pass of trade deals
- 01 Mar 2010Rain adds to Australian abattoirs problems
- 01 Mar 2010Major retailers pledging to boycott foreign beef
- 01 Mar 2010Russia largest market for Brazil in 2009
- 26 Feb 2010China lifts ban, as markets reopen to Canadian pork
- 26 Feb 2010Pigs imported to increase pork production
- 26 Feb 2010American meat production up along with prices
- 25 Feb 2010UK now has its own COOL on pork products
