According to the scientific opinion published by EFSA (European Food Safety Agency), most of the problems related to the welfare of pigs at slaughter are due to the lack of knowledge of the staff and to poorly designed and constructed facilities.
EFSA highlights the lack of skills and/or training of staff working at slaughter as a serious welfare problem and proposes preventive measures.
According to the scientific opinion published by EFSA (European Food Safety Agency), most of the problems related to the welfare of pigs at slaughter are due to the lack of knowledge of the staff and to poorly designed and constructed facilities.
Thus, EFSA highlights the lack of skills and/or training of staff working at slaughter as a serious welfare problem.
This scientific opinion published by EFSA is the latest in a series of updated assessments on animal welfare in slaughterhouses requested by the European Commission. It proposes measures to address the welfare hazards most commonly associated with the slaughter of pigs.
Marta Hugas, Chief Scientist at EFSA, said: “As part of the new ‘farm to fork’ strategy, the European Commission is reviewing the current provisions on animal welfare with the aim of creating a more sustainable food system in the EU. This series of opinions, together with others that we will issue in the coming years, will provide the scientific basis for that review”.
“High standards of animal welfare improve animal health and food quality, reducing the need for medicines and helping to preserve biodiversity. Healthy and well cared-for animals are essential to a healthy food chain.
This review identifies a number of hazards that lead to welfare problems, such as heat stress, thirst, prolonged hunger and respiratory distress, and proposes preventive and corrective measures where possible.
As a result of this review, most of the hazards – 29 out of 30 identified – are the result of staff deficiencies due to factors such as lack of training and fatigue.
Preventive measures can be established for all hazards and facility management has been found to play a crucial role in prevention.
The scientific opinions on slaughter are based on the latest available scientific knowledge and are being developed in consultation with animal welfare experts from EU Member States.
The European Commission will use the results in discussions with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in order to harmonise approaches to animal welfare at slaughter.
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