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Chamber tightens the thumbscrews for slaughterhouses
The House of Representatives wants the cabinet to introduce new rules to control the slaughter speed of slaughterhouses, whereby the welfare of the animals must be guaranteed. These so-called assessment frameworks must be formulated in consultation with the parties involved. The motion submitted by Caroline van der Plas of the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB) about this was adopted by parliament this afternoon (24 May).
The risks associated with a higher slaughter speed can be overcome by measures. Researchers from Wageningen Livestock Research recently concluded this. According to the researchers, a company must be assessed on animal welfare, food safety and the inspection process for permission to increase the slaughter speed. No reason (yet) for agriculture minister Henk Staghouwer to withdraw the stop on the increase in slaughter speed. He wants to do a practical test first.
The Chamber also voted in favor of permanent camera surveillance and that the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) will continue with physical inspections in slaughterhouses. With that camera surveillance, there is a majority in Parliament for images that can be viewed live remotely (within the framework of the privacy law). The NVWA must also be able to determine itself where the cameras are placed in slaughterhouses, in order to prevent blind spots from developing.
Final closure of slaughterhouses
A majority is also in favor of a so-called 'three strikes out' enforcement proposal and for the definitive closure of slaughterhouses that repeatedly fail due to independently proven wrongdoing. High fines in relation to an offence, imprisonment, a professional ban and a lifelong ban on keeping animals for repeat offenders in slaughterhouses can also count on the support of the House. A motion was also passed for a rotation system within the NVWA teams to prevent intimidation or too close ties with the slaughterhouse management and employees.
CO2 intoxication
A motion to reconsider the belt speed of all companies and that no CO2 intoxication may be applied to increase the belt speed, also received sufficient support. A majority of the House of Representatives also wants slaughterhouses that want to switch to intoxication with CO2 not to receive permission for this. The Minister of LNV has previously indicated that CO2 stunning of pigs should be phased out, because it is not animal-friendly.
Linda van Eekeres
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