Parliamentary debate on animal welfare
Politics plays no role in Holland Pig
Politicians are concerned about animal welfare in pig farming. This is apparent from the House of Representatives debate on Thursday 17 May, following images that Varkens in Nood published in February.
Tjeerd de Groot, agricultural spokesperson for D66 and initiator of the debate, is concerned about animal welfare in pig farming. Other parties also believe that animal welfare could be improved, although Jaco Geurts (CDA) commented that the Netherlands already ranks among the top in the world in this area. According to De Groot, it makes no sense to point the finger at an individual producer. "In order to raise animal welfare to a higher level, the production system must be improved," says De Groot.
According to De Groot, the 'Holland Varken' is an example of such a production system, to which approximately 80% of pig farmers have now joined. The D66 agricultural spokesperson therefore advocates that all pig farmers support this initiative.
Task for manufacturing industry
De Groot sees a task for the processing industry within the Holland Varken. This could be the answer to reduce welfare aspects such as piglet mortality and tail biting; for example by excluding pig farmers from supplying if they violate the welfare rules. The Labor Party (PvdA) is also arguing for agreements with the processing industry, agricultural spokesman William Moorlag said.
"However, the standards framework must be tightened up for this," said De Groot, who also submitted a motion for this. For example, he wants to know whether agriculture minister Carola Schouten is willing to work on this. Schouten, in turn, says that the Holland Pig is a private initiative; that is why it is not the job of politicians to set the rules of the game.
Schouten is confident that the pig sector will pick up the gauntlet itself. "With antibiotics reduction and the establishment of the Beter Leven Keurmerk, the sector has proven that it can do this," Schouten said.
Quick clarity about warm remediation
Rik Grashoff (GroenLinks) agrees with De Groot that the production system should be looked at. Grashoff also wants the pig herd to shrink. This is possible according to Grashoff by pig rights from the market, within the warm remediation of pig farming. Schouten indicates that there will soon be clarity about how the cabinet will spend the budget of €200 million. Then it will also become clear what this will mean for pig rights.
Wouter Job
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