UK: Firms to only get pork from compliant countries
One hundred leading food companies have now pledged that they will only source pork from farms compliant with the EU’s new rules on the use of sow stalls.
The National Pig Association has been gathering names on its Wall of Fame since January, but says there has been renewed interest in signing the pledge since the horsemeat scandal.
“The response was slow to start with but then ‘Horsegate’ erupted and food companies suddenly realised how vital it is that they know exactly where the raw materials they import come from,” said NPA general manager Dr Zoe Davies.
“It is clear from the responses we have had that these companies have taken our challenge very seriously and on behalf of British consumers we thank them for their responsible stance.”
The NPA says it is confident that the pledges on its Wall of Fame have helped reduce the flow of pork from illegally-operated farms.
It is now calling on all European countries to clean up their act and comply with European Union welfare legislation.
“We will continue to accept pledges for our Wall of Fame and will shortly start to conduct supply-line audits to check the pledges are being honoured, “ said chairman Richard Longthorp. “But overall we are extremely satisfied with the progress that has been made so far.”
At the beginning of the year NPA estimated as many as 40,000 pigs an hour were being delivered to continental processing plants from illegally-operated pig farms.
As Britain imports around 60% of its processed pork it was feared that many British consumers were unwittingly supporting the trade in illegally-farmed pigs.
Source: Isabel Davies (Farmers Weekly)
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