The Intelligence and Investigation Service of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA-IOD) rolled up an illegal slaughterhouse on Friday, May 23, together with animal welfare inspectors from the NVWA. At a farm in the province of Gelderland, they found 4 men who were about to slaughter a pig that had been killed shortly before. The farmer is suspected of allowing individuals to slaughter a pig on his premises, which is not permitted. The NVWA-IOD seized the carcass and the slaughter tools found.
The NVWA-IOD went to the farm because there was information that a pig would likely be illegally slaughtered that day. The detectives and inspectors received assistance from the police and the Special Assistance Team of the FIOD. In a small hallway in the barn, a makeshift slaughter area was found. On a pallet lay a dead pig that had been de-haired with gas burners. The 4 men present stated that they had just bought the pig and wanted to slaughter it on the spot. The farmer was no longer present at his farm.
During an interrogation on Wednesday, June 4, the farmer admitted that he had sold pigs to individuals in the past 2 years, who were then allowed to slaughter the animal in the barn. The NVWA-IOD is conducting further investigation into how often this occurred. The investigation is led by the Functional Public Prosecution Service.
Serious Risks
The NVWA checks whether slaughterhouses comply with the rules for animal welfare, animal health, and food safety. With illegal slaughter, there is no supervision. This creates significant risks for the welfare of the animals and the safety of the meat.
Report Illegal Slaughter
The NVWA calls on to report (suspicions of) illegal slaughter via telephone number 0900-03 88 or via the website. This can also be done anonymously.
More Information
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