The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) dismantled an illegal pig slaughterhouse last month. Four men were caught in the act while attempting to slaughter a pig on a farm in Gelderland.
The illegal slaughterhouse was discovered on May 23. The livestock farmer is suspected of allowing private individuals to slaughter pigs themselves on his farm, according to the NVWA. This is not permitted.
The NVWA’s investigation service went to the company because it had information indicating that an illegal slaughter would take place that day. During the visit, the service found four men who were about to slaughter a newly killed pig.
The NVWA found a “self-made” slaughter site. A dead pig that had been dehaired with gas burners lay on a pallet. The men stated that they had bought the animal and wanted to slaughter it there. The service confiscated the carcass and slaughtering tools.
The livestock farmer was not present that day. But on Wednesday, during an interrogation, he confessed that he had sold pigs to private individuals for the past two years. The buyers were allowed to slaughter the animal themselves in the stable. It is not yet clear how often this has happened.
According to the NVWA, there are strict rules regarding animal welfare, animal health, and food safety. In the case of illegal slaughter, there is no supervision, which poses major risks to the animals and the food.