Document type : Written answer from the European Commission
Authors: Question: Hilde Vautmans (Renew). Answer: Ms Kyriakides for the European Commission
Question: Mobile slaughterhouses
The most common transport of live animals is to slaughterhouses. In many Member States, there is now an increasing demand for mobile slaughterhouses to facilitate the processing of the meat on the spot.
Not only would this be a effective means of preventing animal stress and improving overall animal welfare, but it would also promote short food supply chains.
However, while this appears to be a very promising solution, major financial and health considerations must also be factored in.
In the light of the Commission’s revision of the regulation laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin:
- Will it assess the financial viability of mobile slaughter facilities and the added value derived from the reduced need for animal transport?
- What potential problems might arise in this connection regarding compliance with animal health standards and how might these be resolved?
- Will the Commission support Member State initiatives in this direction or facilitate the use of experimental slaughterhouses to carry out a thorough cost-benefit analysis?
Answer Mobile slaughterhouses are already allowed and need to comply with the same requirements as other slaughterhouses laid down in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. No specific economic impact assessment or financial viability study at EU level is required at this stage.
These mobile slaughterhouses require the approval by the Member State’s authorities, once being compliant with the relevant requirements of food law including on meat inspection to evaluate and address any potential problems and assure public and animal health and animal welfare.
As regards the possible benefit to reduce animal transport, the Commission does not have comprehensive information on the issue. Based on the available sources, mobile slaughterhouses can certainly represent an interest in particular geographical and societal contexts.
However, the number, the size and the capacity of mobile slaughterhouses are very limited compared to fixed establishments. It is therefore unlikely that this impacts on need for animal transport.
The Commission has no direct funding targeted at supporting mobile slaughterhouses. It is at the discretion of Member States to use EU funding to do so. Mobile slaughterhouses are eligible for support under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
The physical investment, such as the track or the slaughtering equipment can be carried out under the Measure ‘Investments in physical assets’.
The immaterial investment, such as research and promotion activities can be programmed under the Cooperation Measure. Mobile slaughterhouses may also be eligible as a basic service to rural population open to all shepherds and/or other inhabitants.
