Compaxo is not allowed by the judge at a higher slaughter speed

Compaxo is not allowed to increase the belt speed of its slaughterhouse in Zevenaar in order to process more pigs per hour. This is what the preliminary relief judge in The Hague has just before Christmas determined in summary proceedings. Interestingly, the judge advised Compaxo not to take further legal action until an investigation commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture into the effect of slaughter speed on animal welfare has been completed. 

Compaxo now works with a capacity of 650 pigs per hour, but would like to increase the belt speed to 675 animals per hour. In December 2020, the NVWA requested an audit for this, but the control authority informed the meat company a few months later that it was unable to accede to this request. In doing so, the NVWA referred to the study conducted by Minister Carola Schouten into the effect of the belt speed in slaughterhouses on the animal welfare of the animals. Schouten previously ruled after social unrest that the belt speed the emphasis should not be on cost savings and efficiency. 

Lack of sensitivity
The minister then issued a so-called indication that the slaughter speed in slaughterhouses may not be increased until an investigation into this has been completed. This research should create the conditions and the so-called frameworks for determining the slaughter speed in relation to animal welfare. Compaxo questioned the legal validity of that designation in preliminary relief proceedings, but the judge did not agree and concluded that Compaxo's claims were declared inadmissible.

The meat company can, however, go to the administrative court to object to the NVWA's decision not to conduct the audit. However, the preliminary relief judge in The Hague advises against this step in an extensive statement of reasons. The judge wonders whether it is wise for Compaxo to take this step and points to the social unrest and concern that has arisen about animal welfare at slaughterhouses. "Under these circumstances - and now that Compaxo has explicitly stated in court that it attaches great importance to animal welfare and food safety - it could be a sign of a lack of sensitivity if Compaxo did not await the results of the ongoing investigation," the statement said. judge.

Eric the Thrush

Eric is a member of the editorial staff of Boerenbusiness. As a descendant of an arable family, farmer's blood flows through Eric's veins. He considers himself a generalist, but with a preference for economics, trends, markets and marketing.

e.delijster@boerenbusiness. Nl

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