Welfare at Slaughter
and Killing
FVE: slaughter without
stunning is “unacceptable”
Brussels, 10 March 2009 - The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe
(FVE) welcomes the draft EU Regulation dealing with the protection
of animals at the time of killing. This piece of legislation "clearly
constitutes a step forward for the level of animal welfare in slaughterhouses",
confirmed Walter Winding, FVE president.
However, to make sure that the new welfare rules are correctly
applied, enforcement procedures in case of non-compliance are needed.
The FVE recommends that the role of the competent authority in this
matter is clearly stated in the Regulation.
The FVE furthermore strongly believes that the Official Veterinarian
(OV) has a central role to play in the controls relating to animal
welfare in the slaughterhouse. The role of the OV should be specifically
stated in the Standard Operating Procedures, urges the FVE. For
example, the OV should check the level of staff training, and request
retraining if necessary.
Furthermore, the practice of slaughtering animals without prior
stunning is "unacceptable under any circumstances"
from an ethical and animal welfare viewpoint, recalls Walter Winding.
And in case derogations for specific religious communities are granted,
more transparency is required.
"Consumers have the right to be informed if the meat is
derived from an animal not stunned prior to slaughter".
The FVE is indeed very concerned by the fact that in certain EU
countries a high proportion of animals are killed without stunning
- e.g. in 2006, this concerned 92% of sheep and 21% of calves slaughtered
in Belgium - while the proportion of consumers of this type of meat
is very small (around 3.5% of the whole population). Meat from these
animals is sold on the domestic and export market, even to consumers
who are unaware of the slaughter conditions.
This is contrary to animal welfare - and to the consumer's right
to be informed. Operators should ensure that only animals destined
for a religious market are killed without pre-stunning, the FVE
urges. In case slaughter takes place without prior stunning, the
animals should be stunned
immediately following the cut, while specific information should
therefore always be available to consumers if animals were slaughtered
according to this procedure.
Finally, the Regulation should permit Member States to implement
stricter welfare rules for the slaughter or killing of animals,
should they wish to do so.
Notes for Editors:
1. Data:
Belgium, 2006, 21% of calves, 10% of adult cattle and 92% of sheep
were slaughtered without prior stunning. Muslim population around
3.5 %. The degree of self-sufficiency for calves is about 140% and
for sheep 12%.
In France, figures differ according to the source.
According to the COPERCI report, 20% of bovines, 80% of sheep, and
20% of poultry are slaughtered without prior stunning.
According to OABA, Oeuvre d'Assistance aux Bêtes d'Abattoire,
40% of calves, 25% of cattle and
55% of sheep and lambs are slaughtered without prior stunning.
According to the French Ministry of Agriculture (DGAL) (2008) 13%
of calves, 12% of cattle and 49% of sheep/goats are slaughtered
without prior stunning. The Muslim population in France is around
7%. Self sufficiency in France for bovines is about 110%, ovines
50%.
2. FVE position papers on slaughter:
a. Specific amendments on draft slaughter Regulation http://www.fve.org/news/position_papers/animal_welfare/fve_08_085_
slaughterwelfareamendments.pdf
b. Animal welfare at slaughter and killing (2006) http://www.fve.org/news/position_papers/animal_welfare/fve_06_033_aw_slaughter.pdf
c. Slaughter without prior stunning (2002) http://www.fve.org/news/position_papers/animal_welfare/fve_02_104_slaughter_prior_stunning.pdf
3. The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) is an
umbrella organisation of 44 veterinary organisations from 38 European
countries, representing a total of around 200 000 veterinarians.
4. For further information, consult the FVE website http://www.fve.org
or contact the FVE Secretariat on tel +32 2 533 70 20 or by e-mail
to info@fve.org
|
