Brussels Urged to Legislate on Castration

May 20, 2015 — 

Some of Europe's leading pig-producing countries are seeking sweeping revisions to European Union pig welfare legislation. Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden want to see an end to tail and testicle interventions, a proper stalls ban, and eventually a ban on farrowing crates.

On surgical castration, the four-nation axis cites the European Food Safety Authority's view that physiological and behavioural reactions indicating pain are numerous during and after castration and some behavioural alterations persist for several days "indicating that animals suffer from long-term pain".

The four-nation welfare coalition points out only a minority of member countries have signed Europe's 2010 pledge to eliminate surgical castration by 2018. And in any case, with only three years to go, it is looking increasingly unlikely the 2018 target will be met. "Some companies are facing complex market barriers related to institutional, organisational, social and cultural aspects. Furthermore, the results of research to identify mutually recognised methods for the assessment of boar taint are not far enough advanced."

The four-nation welfare coalition is urging Brussels to ban unanaesthetised castration. "In the event that castration cannot be eliminated by 2018 entirely, because of lack of market acceptance, and as certain production types might need to continue castration, we urge the Commission to introduce a legislative requirement for the use of anaesthesia and prolonged analgesia as a condition for surgical castration by 2018."

Castration is banned in Britain by the pig industry's whole chain assurance, which covers over 90 percent of pigs.

Source: May 13, 2013 , NPA News