This month Eyes on Animals visited a cattle slaughterhouse called EuroMeats in Belgium. Motivated to make improvements to the welfare of the animals passing through his plant, the Director met with the three local Imams to discuss steps they could take together to reduce pain during Halal slaughter. Open and respectful dialogue lead to them agreeing to at least use the … [Read more...] about November 2013: Belgian Halal slaughterhouse Director and local Imams agree to stun animals
News
October 2013: Compaxo installs videocamera surveillance
Compaxo slaughterhouse in the Netherlands again sets a good example. Last year they installed floor heating in the pen for suspect pigs and reduced noise levels, and now they just finished installing video camera surveillance in all places where live animals are being handled. Video surveillance is used to monitor that animal handling during unloading, lairaging … [Read more...] about October 2013: Compaxo installs videocamera surveillance
August 2013: No access to put injured chickens out of their misery
According to the EU legislation, animals must be accessible during transport and animals that become unwell must be separated and given first-aid. Sadly, poultry throughout Europe are still not given the benefit of this protection; to date these legislative requirements are still being ignored by the poultry industry and law-enforcers. … [Read more...] about August 2013: No access to put injured chickens out of their misery
NVWA tighten control on poultry transports
Good news: partly due to our reports and trailing poultry transports (the previous one very recently to Poland) the NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) have tightened the control on transports of poultry, especially the ones of a maximum of 12 hours. These transports are not required to provide the animals with water. Practice shows that in … [Read more...] about NVWA tighten control on poultry transports
April 2013 Attention for poultry transport crates
The improvement of chicken transport crates, one of the prime focuses of Eyes on Animals work, is something the poultry industry is now also interested in; so we heard from a reliable source. The industry is discussing and gathering information about the advantages and disadvantages of several shapes of crates and possible new designs that could improve welfare. We are … [Read more...] about April 2013 Attention for poultry transport crates
March 2013 Good news from Turkish border Kapikule!
Since 20.03.2013 the Turkish border veterinarians are enforcing the EU maximum journey times for animals, as indicated in the EU animal-protection-during-transport regulation EC 1/2005. Previously, compliance with EU animal-protection laws played no role in the processing and acceptance of EU livestock trucks by the Turkish authorities. But since yesterday they are … [Read more...] about March 2013 Good news from Turkish border Kapikule!
Vion Groenlo slaughterhouse reduces noise level
Vion Groenlo has informed us that after our visit they improved their lairage by installing black rubber shock absorbers on the gates to reduce the noise when slamming them shut. Noise, particularly loud bangs, greatly add to the stress and fright level of animals in slaughterhouses. We thank Vion Groenlo for acting on this suggestion and doing something to improve … [Read more...] about Vion Groenlo slaughterhouse reduces noise level
Dec 2012 Shame on Animex transport company and sia Genetic LV
During Ramadam this year (late August), most EU organizers and transporters knew not to load animals for Turkey as Turkey was not allowing EU animals in during this time. But we saw Animex on the road in Hungary, riding towards the Turkish border with live cattle on board! Despite warning the drivers and the boss that the border was not open for another 4 days, they … [Read more...] about Dec 2012 Shame on Animex transport company and sia Genetic LV
June 2013 Slaugtherhouse Amsterdam refuses visit in the context of unstunned ritual slaughter
In June, teams of Eyes on Animals and AWF visited a number of Turkish slaughterhouses, where animals are slaughtered ritually and unstunned. At most of these slaughterhouses we were received very politely. We concluded that there are several aspects that need to be improved to make the animals suffer less. Managers and veterinarians of these slaughterhouses have promised … [Read more...] about June 2013 Slaugtherhouse Amsterdam refuses visit in the context of unstunned ritual slaughter
Nov 2012 Keus en Mollink caught for overcrowding
Eyes on Animals received news that a Keus en Mollink truck with slaughter pigs on board was stopped by the Hungarian authorities and found to have too many pigs on board. The EU loading density has a limit of 235kg/m2 but on board was 247kg/m2. We are in touch with Keus en Mollink to make sure their drivers put their foot down even if the local veterinarian and organizer … [Read more...] about Nov 2012 Keus en Mollink caught for overcrowding
