After 17 years of negotiations, China now wants to import veal from the Netherlands.
EonA director Lesley was invited to explain what effect this would have on the welfare of unweaned calves. In order to be able to supply more and more veal worldwide, the Netherlands will also have to import more and more live calves to fatten them up here in order to continue to meet the demand.
From birth to slaughter, these young animals have already had a miserable life, and the breeding and transport of such young animals causes enormous animal suffering in all respects.
Not only with regards to animal welfare, but also with regards to climate change and promoting plant-based protein, the Netherlands should set a good example by no longer entering into new trade agreements on animal protein, but rather by phasing them out.
