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Industry Viewpoint Continued<br />
produce pigs illegally. Even Denmark and the Netherlands are<br />
currently only 70 percent compliant, although it is expected<br />
these countries’ assurance schemes will quickly identify any<br />
law-breakers after January 2013.”<br />
John Howard, Market Director (UK) at the Danish Agriculture<br />
& Food Council says that the Danish industry will be ready.<br />
“Independently monitored assurance schemes, covering all pig<br />
suppliers to Danish Crown and Tican, require full compliance<br />
with all relevant legislation, in addition to more demanding<br />
requirements regarding welfare, safety and environmental<br />
standards,” he said.<br />
“A significant number of Danish producers<br />
are likely to cease production by the end<br />
of the year because they will not be able<br />
to market their pigs”<br />
Changes in Denmark have been slowed by bureaucratic<br />
planning regulations and difficulties in getting money from<br />
banks in the economic climate that has prevailed since 2008.<br />
Obtaining permission for new buildings can take several<br />
years, so many producers have had to convert existing barns,<br />
which has resulted in fewer sows because group housing<br />
takes up more space than stalls. These challenges mean that<br />
a significant number of Danish producers are likely to cease<br />
20 | Western Hog Journal | Winter 2012<br />
production by the end of the year because they will not be<br />
able to market their pigs.<br />
As ever with EU legislation, the northern countries, such as<br />
the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and the Scandinavian<br />
countries are more likely to be in compliance, whereas<br />
counties such as Italy, Spain and Greece tend to feel new<br />
legislation is optional. This is reflected in the estimates of<br />
current compliance, bearing in mind much of the numbers are<br />
little more than guesswork. The British Pig Executive (BPEX)<br />
recently made an assessment of the current situation and says<br />
that a majority of producers on the continent are<br />
not compliant.<br />
The big question is what the EU will do after the end of the<br />
year when so many producers will be breaking the law. One<br />
option is derogation, delaying the deadline, but this is strongly<br />
opposed by Britain and Denmark. A Polish request for an<br />
extension until 2017 has been turned down by EU Health<br />
Commissioner John Dalli.<br />
Pork producer organizations are watching closely how similar<br />
legislation relating to battery cages for hens is enforced. It<br />
became illegal to use battery cages after January 1st, 2012,<br />
but at least 11 EU countries are expected to be non-compliant.<br />
Commissioner Dalli has taken a hard line, slamming the<br />
expected failure of many member countries to implement the<br />
laying hens legislation, which was agreed in 1999. It was<br />
a “massive and damaging blow” which threatens to create<br />
distortions and confrontation between member countries and<br />
could undermine the European Union’s credibility, he said.<br />
“Practical solutions” were required from January to prevent<br />
the illegal circulation of eggs produced from illegal battery<br />
cages, he added.<br />
British producers seem to have little confidence in the ability<br />
of the EU to keep illegal pork out of the country. BPEX<br />
believes non-compliant, illegally-produced pork will inevitably<br />
enter the United Kingdom unless strong measures are taken<br />
to police the January 2013 partial stalls ban. It has called on<br />
retailers and foodservice companies to ensure all imports come<br />
The Next<br />
is March 2012<br />
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22<br />
For advertising contact James Shaw at<br />
416-231-1812 or jamesshaw@rogers.com
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