Reform of EU slaughter regulation and animal welfare legislation in the light of lamb slaughter conditions in France
30.6.2020
Question for written answer E-003840/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
Elżbieta Kruk (ECR)
The group L214 has conducted an investigation into the French lamb fattening farm SARL Grimal and the industrial slaughterhouse Arcadie Sud-Ouest, where lambs from SARL Grimal are slaughtered.
The investigation has drawn attention to the terrible conditions endured by sheep during the fattening and slaughter process. Lamps are crammed into buildings without access to an outside area, with many sick lambs left to suffer agonising deaths.
80 % of sheep are artificially inseminated and one million lambs are born every year. Only 25 % of them (female) are kept to renew the herd and produce milk. The rest, between 500 000 and 800 000 lambs, are either sent directly to a slaughterhouse, or first to an intensive farm to be fattened, and then to a slaughterhouse.
- 1.Does the Commission plan to review the current slaughter regulation and animal welfare legislation in order to provide protection for animals that are not currently covered, such as lambs and sheep, and to ensure that Member States enforce regulations properly?
- 2.Does the Commission plan to take any action against France for its failure to monitor the application of slaughter regulations?
- 3.Is the Commission satisfied with the current ‘quality labelling’ procedure under EU law?