NVWA considers closure of slaughterhouse in Brabant

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has taken significant action against a small abattoir in Brabant due to ongoing concerns regarding animal welfare and hygiene. The NVWA is considering withdrawing the abattoir's accreditation, a decision following earlier suspensions and insufficient improvements by the company.

In October 2023, the NVWA conducted a company audit at the said slaughterhouse. This inspection revealed serious shortcomings in the area of slaughter hygiene. The spaces were not clean, and the temperature of the sterilizer for knives did not meet the required standards. Additionally, the personal hygiene of the staff was substandard, and there was a lack of drinking water provision for the animals.

Following these findings, the NVWA suspended the accreditation of the slaughterhouse. During a suspension, it is not allowed to slaughter, and the company must submit an improvement plan. The slaughterhouse has submitted several improvement plans and carried out trial slaughters under the supervision of the NVWA. Nonetheless, hygiene and animal welfare were still not up to standard.

The battle for improvement

The trial slaughters, conducted in February and March 2024, showed that the situation was still far from acceptable. During these slaughters, hygiene was found to be inadequate, and animal welfare was insufficiently safeguarded, particularly concerning the electrical stunning of animals.

These ongoing issues have led the NVWA to consider further measures. Although the slaughterhouse is not permitted to slaughter, there is insufficient confidence from the NVWA that the company can safeguard animal welfare and hygiene in the future.

The future of the slaughterhouse

The NVWA is now contemplating withdrawing the accreditation of the slaughterhouse. According to legislation, the company can apply for a new accreditation from the NVWA. Any such application will be thoroughly reviewed by the NVWA, with a focus on ensuring animal welfare and hygiene. It is a critical moment for the Brabant abattoir, now at a crossroads of regulation and business operation.

Nvwa.nl