Shocking images emerge
Image of the pig sector is badly damaged
The pig sector is in the news all the time, only in a negative sense. Animal Rights, an organization that stands up for animal rights, has recorded the course of events within the Flemish pig slaughterhouse with a hidden camera and the images are clear.
Animal Rights has images released which shows how pigs are systematically mistreated by transporters and employees upon arrival at the Flemish slaughterhouse, part of the Debra-Group. The Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare, Ben Weyts, has had the Animal Welfare Inspectorate visit the pig slaughterhouse and believe that the slaughterhouse should surrender the permit.
Thomas De Roover-De Brauwer, director of Debra, says he is very shocked by the images. “We cannot deny the images. We have started an internal investigation to see how we can prevent this in the future.' Appropriate measures will be taken against the employees concerned, according to the director.
The Belgian affair also has a Dutch tail. According to the animal welfare organization, the slaughterhouse also supplies dozens of Dutch butchers. Among the Dutch buyers are many inspection and quality butchers, including a purveyor to the royal household.
In the export slaughterhouse in Tielt, 1,4 million pigs are slaughtered per year, or about 25.000 to 35.000 animals per week. The slaughterhouse is part of the Debra-Group, one of the largest pork slaughter and production companies in Belgium.
Wouter Job
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