Danes slam UK pig farmers claims
25 January 1999
Danes slam UK pig farmers’ claims
By FWi staff
DANISH pig producers today hit back at claims they are driving British farmers out of business by producing cut-price pigmeat with little regard for animal welfare.
Protesting British farmers on Saturday burned the Union Jack during a protest in London attended by 2000 producers and their families.
The protesters claimed they were unable to compete with imported Danish pigmeat produced under conditions that would be illegal if used in this country.
The British farmers said many Danish pigs were kept tethered in coffin-sized stalls and fed on meat and bonemeal – both practices illegal in Britain.
But Danish producers this morning (Monday) said that Danish pigmeat for export was produced to exemplary food safety and animal welfare standards.
“Like their UK counterparts, Danish producers are facing some of the lowest prices for years,” said a statement from the Danish Bacon and Meat Council.
“Yet despite this, the Danes have continued to take decisive action to implement significant improvements in many areas of pig production and animal welfare.”
In response to customers requests, the use of meat and bonemeal is prohibited for pigs supplied under contract for export to the UK.
An initiative was launched last October to rule out the use of stalls and tethers for animals destined for the UK.