Dutch hold back from pigmeat protest
9 June 2000
Dutch hold back from pigmeat protest
By FWi staff
DUTCH meat producers have no plans to complain to advertising watchdogs about controversial British pigmeat advertisements — at least for the time being.
Danish meat producers on Thursday (8 June) lodged a complaint with the Advertising Complaints Commission about the advertisements which feature a picture of a sow suckling her piglets.
This advert for the British Meat Quality Standard Mark is accompanied by the caption: After shes fed them, she could be fed to them.
This draws attention to the fact that while British pig farmers cannot feed meat and bonemeal to their animals, the practice has not been outlawed in other countries.
But Robert Smith, Dutch Meat Board managing director, said he felt other issues should take higher priority over seeking grounds on which to lodge a complaint
Were looked closely across the issue and would rather encourage positive discussion rather than prolong this my dads bigger than your dad debate.
Mr Smith, who discussed the adverts with angry Dutch pig farmers this week, said British and Dutch pig farmers could learn a lot from each other rather than be pitted on opposite sides.
However, Mr Smith warned that lodging a complaint with the ASA was still an option.
The Danish Bacon and Meat Council (DBMC) has complained on the grounds that UK pigs can in fact be fed porcine products.
It says UK legislation allows for the feeding of animal fats, blood meal and dried plasma and other blood products.
The DBMC also claims that the campaign is hypocritical because the Meat and Livestock Commission and British pig industry have been lobbying for MAFF to reintroduce the use of porcine meat and bonemeal.
It adds that meat and bonemeal is excluded from contract supplies for the UK.
The MLC, which part-funded the 4.6m campaign, says the adverts are 100% accurate.
It says that while UK legislation does permit the use of these products they are not allowed to be fed to any animal raised under the Quality Standard Mark.
The MLC adds that it wanted to make meat and bonemeal available for broiler production because there was no evidence of BSE-type disease in pigs.
A complaint has also been lodged by the Vegetarian International Voice for Animals (Viva!) which claims the picture of the unconfined sow is inaccurate.
The group says more than three quarters of UK sows give birth in confined farrowing crates and remain there for 28 days.
Viva! Director Juliet Gellatley said it was ironic that the campaign concentrated on animal welfare but darent show the cruel and inhumane conditions under which pigs give birth.