EPE, Netherlands – A slaughterhouse in Epe has been fined €15,000 for mistreating animals, a rare case that has drawn attention from animal rights activists. The Gosschalk slaughterhouse faced the fine and possible criminal prosecution for employees, after footage was released showing pigs and cows being abused with paddles, electric shocks, and tail-pulling on their way to slaughter.
Animal welfare organization Varkens in Nood, which filmed the images in 2020, has campaigned for obligatory cameras in all slaughterhouses and believes this is the first time a slaughterhouse has been penalized for animal mistreatment. The director of the organization, Frederieke Schouten, commented that while the fine may not be substantial in comparison to the number of animals mistreated, it still sends an important signal.
The footage, which garnered significant media and political attention, led to the closure of the slaughterhouse for eight weeks by the NVWA Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. In addition, major clients such as McDonald’s and Boni cancelled contracts with the slaughterhouse. As a result, the family-owned firm went bankrupt and was subsequently taken over by Fuite, a feed company.
The public prosecutor announced that the head of the company had already been punished by stepping back and selling the family business. The director of the slaughterhouse was not found to have given active instructions for the banned behavior, but the employees accused of animal mistreatment will face prosecution. The company, now operating under the name FamilyBeef, has taken over the slaughter and processing of only beef products post-takeover.
The New Social Contract, a party involved in discussions about the formation of the next Dutch government, has proposed the closure of intensive pig and chicken farms and the reduction of labor migrants, often employed in slaughterhouses. Consequently, nearly a quarter of Dutch pig farmers have signed up for a voluntary buy-out scheme, aiming to reduce the large number of farmed animals in the country.
In conclusion, the Gosschalk slaughterhouse in Epe has been fined for animal mistreatment, drawing attention from the public and prompting action from authorities and the industry. The case has brought to light the issue of animal welfare in slaughterhouses and has sparked discussions about the future of intensive farming in the Netherlands.