House of Representatives considers Belgian slaughterhouse

As a result of the horror practices in the Flemish slaughterhouse in Tielt, the Flemish Minister of Animal Welfare, Ben Weyts, wants to examine all slaughterhouses in Flanders. In addition, the minister also wants permanent independent supervision. In the Netherlands there is a debate about the abuses.

The extra measures follow after Weyts stopped all activities in the Flemish slaughterhouse last week. The minister now wants all slaughterhouses in Flanders to be fully screened by an independent body. In addition, Weyts wants every slaughterhouse to have an independent officer who fully supervises the slaughter process. At present, slaughterhouses still have the option of appointing their own official. 'An official must be able to report, without fearing sanctions from the slaughterhouse,' says Weyts.

In the meantime, the Flemish slaughterhouse, part of the Debra-Group, has approached the Council of State to challenge the cessation of activities. This sanction follows after the action plan drawn up with points for improvement was rejected by Weyts. According to the minister, the step to the Council of State is a pointless path. "The operator will first have to come up with a watertight step-by-step plan," said the minister in the Flemish media.

Debate in the Netherlands
There will also be a Thirty-member debate, previously an emergency debate, about the incident in Belgium in the Netherlands. Thanks to the support of the SP, the Party of the Animals and the Christian Union, Dion Graus, Member of Parliament on behalf of the PVV, has managed to find sufficient support for such a debate. In practice, it sometimes takes longer between the request and the actual agenda.

Van Dam wants cameras
On Tuesday, Martijn van Dam, outgoing State Secretary for Economic Affairs, announced that he would like to discuss camera surveillance with slaughterhouses. The Dutch Trade Union Pig Farming (NVV) and LTO Pig Farming are in favor of such measures.  

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

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