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Today’s shocking footage evidences the brutal and consistent reality of pigs raised for some of the most highly-priced pork products around the globe – Parma and other Italian speciality hams including San Daniele.

Most consumers are unaware of the deplorable conditions in which millions of pigs are reared across Europe. Yet, the overwhelming majority Europe’s pigs never see daylight or breathe fresh air. They spend their entire lives in windowless, overcrowded and filthy sheds before being sent to slaughter.

The images reveal illegal practices such as routine tail docking, overcrowding, consistent lack of hygiene and veterinary care, presence of vermin and total disregard for the welfare of the animals. While these new revelations build on earlier scandals involving the Parma consortium and its controlling authorities last year, it is the first time that malpractices are documented in such depth and scope.

Raising pigs in barren conditions, without appropriate enrichment materials, while at the same time performing routine tail docking has been illegal in the EU for more than 20 years.

Jeppe Kofod MEP (S&D, DK), Chairman of the EP Animal Welfare Intergroup’s working group on pig welfare  said, “The well-documented lack of enforcement of the EU Pigs Directive in most member states is a striking example of the inertia of national and EU regulators when strong economic interests are perceived to clash with animal welfare. There is no excuse for waiting longer: routine painful husbandry procedures must disappear, and pigs must be provided with better care”.

The plight of these pigs raises the question of why even minimum European pig welfare standards are not implemented in the production of some of Italy’s top products of excellence, such as Parma Ham. One can only conclude that animal welfare enforcement mechanisms fail at every level, from the Consortium to the control body certifying Parma Ham producers, to the Italian competent authorities, and ultimately the European Commission.

“These revelations are all the more shocking in light of the fact that this is an industry that receives millions of EU subsidies for promotion measures without having to effectively respect the most basic animal welfare requirements first” says Reineke Hameleers, Eurogroup for Animals Director. She added ‘‘How much more misleading can a product be for consumers: Animals raised for Italy’s most prestigious cured meat are being treated in ways that are illegal and deeply immoral, while consumers are asked to pay a premium price!”

The case of Parma Ham production is emblematic of a much more diffuse lack of enforcement of existing pig welfare legislation that should urgently be addressed. This is why Eurogroup for Animals and its member organisations, through their joint End Pig Pain campaign, are calling on the EU and on Member States to fully enforce EU pig welfare legislation.

Media inquiries:
Sophie De Jonckheere, Communications and Development Manager, Email: s.dejonckheere@eurogroupforanimals.org Tel: +32 (0) 2 740 08 22 – Mobile: +32( 0)473 394 184

Contact:
Elena Nalon, Farm Animals Programme Leader, Eurogroup for Animals, Email: e.nalon@eurogroupforanimals.org.

 

Press coverage:
(Last update: Friday 13 April, 12:11)

Pigs reared for supermarket Parma ham kept in ‘illegal’ conditions, secret footage reveals (Source: Independent)

Des cochons maltraités pour produire le jambon de Parme (Source: Metro Belgium)

Parmaham teert op dierenleed (Source: De Standaard)

Animali ammassati, cannibalismo, topi: l’inferno dentro gli allevamenti intensivi di maiali in Lombardia (Source: Corriere della Sera)

Cochons maltraités: les producteurs du jambon de Parme dénoncent une campagne de dénigrement (Source: Le Soir)

Graphic footage exposes squalid conditions of pig farms where Parma ham is produced for UK (Source: I News)

Jambon de Parme: nouveau scandale de maltraitance de cochons dans six élevages italiens (Source: Huffington Post France)

‘Italiaanse’ varkens mishandeld voor populaire parmaham (Source: De Morgen)

‘Veel varkensleed bij productie parmaham’ (Source: HP/DeTijd)

L’écœurante réalité derrière le prestigieux jambon de Parme (Source: Paris Match Belgium)

GAIA toont gruwelijke beelden van mishandelde varkens in Italië: “Parmaham teert op dierenleed” (Source: VRT News)

Varkens mishandeld voor in ons land populaire parmaham: “Consument moet ogen openen” (Source: Gazet van Antwerpen)

Veel varkensleed bij productie parmaham (Source: Welingelichte Kringen)

L’inferno dei maiali, i video shock negli allevamenti di prosciutto (Source: Repubblica)

Des cochons maltraités pour produire le jambon de Parme, les producteurs dénoncent une campagne de dénigrement (Source: La Libre)

Des cochons maltraités pour produire le jambon de Parme (Source: Sudinfo.be)

Italiaanse varkens mishandeld voor in ons land populaire parmaham: “Consument moet ogen openen” (Source: Het Nieuwsblad)

Varkens mishandeld voor in ons land populaire parmaham: “Consument moet ogen openen” (Source: HBVL)

’Veel varkensleed bij productie parmaham’ (Source: De Telegraaf)

L’origine épouvantable de votre jambon de Parme (Source: 7 sur 7)

Des cochons sont maltraités pour produire le jambon de Parme, dénonce Gaia (Source: RTBF)

Souffrance animale: Des cochons maltraités dans la chaîne de fabrication du jambon de Parme (Source: 20minutes.fr)

Gaia dénonce l’enfer des cochons élevés pour le jambon de Parme (Source: Flair.be)

Des cochons maltraités pour produire le jambon de Parme (Source: Skynet.be)

Des associations de protection des animaux diffusent une vidéo insoutenable sur les cochons servant à fabriquer le Jambon de Parme AOC (Source: Jeanmarcmorandini.com)

Parmankinkun tuotannon pimeä puoli (Source: Kansan Uutiset)

Producenten parmaham ontkennen dierenmishandeling (Source: Landbouwleven.be)

Tutkimuksen mukaan parmankinkun tuottamisessa käytetään Italiassa epäinhimillisiä ja laittomia tapoja (Source: Maaseudun Tulevaisuus)

Misstanden in stallen van parmaham-varkens (Source: AD)

Prosciutto Parma ed altre Dop. Maiali maltrattati e tenuti in box sporchi e strutture fatiscenti (Source: AgenPress)

Animalisti Ue, ‘maltrattati i maiali del Prosciutto Parma’ Eurodeputato Kofod, ‘immagini documentano pratiche illegali’ (Source: Ansa)

Une vidéo dénonce la maltraitance des cochons élevés pour le jambon de Parme (Source: BFM TV)

In een plakje parmaham zit veel varkensleed (Source: Vroege Vogels)

Allevamenti di suini lager, shock nella Bassa (Source: Brescia Oggi)

Les effroyables conditions d’élevage des cochons pour fabriquer du jambon de Parme dévoilées dans une enquête qui fait scandale (Source: Demotivateur.fr)

Veel varkensleed bij productie parmaham (Source: Dieren.blog.nl)

Footage reveals ‘illegal’ conditions of pigs bred for Parma ham in Italy (Source: Food Processing Technology)

Des cochons maltraités filmés dans des abattoirs fabriquant du jambon de Parme en Italie (Source: France TV Info)

Jambon de Parme: une vidéo choc montre les dessous des élevages italiens (Source: France Soir)

Animalisti Ue, ‘maltrattati i maiali del Prosciutto Parma’ (Source: Gazzetta di Parma)

Scontro tra animalisti Ue e produttori del Prosciutto di Parma sul benessere dei maiali allevati (Source: Il Sole 24 Ore)

LAV contro prosciutto di Parma «Maiali in condizioni intollerabili» (Source: L’Adige)

Un video denuncia l’inferno dei maiali negli allevamenti del Prosciutto di Parma (Source: La Stampa)

Jambon de Parme : une vidéo dénonce la maltraitance des cochons (Source: Le Parisien)

Le Jambon de Parme dans la tourmente (Source: Le Vif)

Prosciutto din porci schingiuiți. În ce condiții sunt ținuți porcii italieni care devin delicatesă și pe mesele românilor (Source: Libertatea)

Scandalo allevamenti: maiali maltrattati per fare il Prosciutto di Parma (Source: Parma Quotidiano)

Animalisti: maiali maltrattati. Consorzio Prosciutto Parma nega accuse (Source: Sky TG 24)

Cochons maltraités : des associations appellent à boycotter le jambon de Parme (Source: Terra Femina)

Maltrattati i maiali del Prosciutto di Parma (Source: Ticino Online)

Ces porcs agoni­sants vont vous passer l’en­vie de manger du jambon (Source: VSD Actualite)

Parma ham pigs ‘treated badly’ – animal rights activists (Source: Gazzetta del Sud)

Parma ham pigs ‘treated badly’ – animal rights activists (Source: La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno)

Video shock maiali: allevamenti intensivi in Lombardia (Source: Panorama)

Le consortium du Jambon de Parme dans la tourmente du bien-être animal (Source: 7 de table)

Prosciutto di Parma: LAV analizza una sconvolgente realtà (Source: Alto Molise)

Une vidéo choc dénonce la maltraitance des cochons d’élevages — Italie (Source: Camp des Recrues)

Verkoop van parmaham gaat door ondanks schandaal (Source: DG Retail)

Jambon de Parme : scandale sur la maltraitance des cochons dans six élevages italiens (Source: Epoch Times)

Allevamenti di maiali: guerra tra LAV e Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma (Source: Euronews)

L’Eurozapping – A la une chez nos voisins (Source: France 3)

Des cochons maltraités filmés dans des abattoirs fabriquant du jambon de Parme en Italie (Source: France TV Info)

Orrore negli allevamenti di maiali destinati alla produzione del Prosciutto di Parma (Source: Green Me)

Un video denuncia l’inferno dei maiali negli allevamenti del Prosciutto di Parma (Source: Il Secolo XIX)

LAV: “Allevamenti horror per prosciutti DOP” (Source: Il Salvagente)

Investigation reveals squalid conditions of pigs reared for Parma ham destined for UK (Source: Plant Based News)

Jambon de Parme. Les images chocs de cochons maltraités font scandale (Source: Ouest France)

LAV scopre allevamenti “lager“ nel bresciano (Source: Qui Brescia)

Derrière le Jambon de Parme, des cochons maltraités (Source: Reponse Conso)

Scandal în Italia: Porcii din care se prepară faimoasa șuncă de Parma sunt crescuți în condiții improprii, fără apă și cu leziuni netratate (Source: Stirile TV)

Die grausame Geschichte hinter dem Parmaschinken (Source: Tages Anzeiger)

Kuvat ei herkille: Italialaisilta kinkkutiloilta löytyi järkyttävissä oloissa eläviä eläimiä (Source: Ilta Sanomat)

Accusations of cruelty at Italian farms that supply Parma ham pigs (Source: The Local Italy)

Maiali agonizzanti e lasciati morire negli allevamenti: di nuovo coinvolto il Consorzio di Parma (Source: The Social Post)

Nuove immagini shock dagli allevamenti di suini in Lombardia: “L’orrore che viene finanziato dall’Europa” (Source: Vegolosi)

Suini maltrattati: “Episodi anche nel mantovano” (Source: Voce di Mantova)

Italie : Des cochons élevés dans des conditions déplorables pour le jambon de Parme (Source: Zinfos974.com)

Porcos agridem uns aos outros por causa do desespero em fazendas (Source: 24 Brasil)

Denuncian con un video el estado de cerdos destinados a elaborar Jamón de Parma (Source: Agrodigital)

Schokkend onderzoek: EU regels massaal overtreden in varkensstallen Parmaham (Source: Animal Today NL)

Porcos agridem uns aos outros por causa do desespero em fazendas (Source: ANDA – Agencia de Noticias de Direitos Animales)

Skandal um Parmaschinken: Schweine unter erbärmlichen Bedingungen gehalten (Source: APA OTS)

Allevamenti maiali in Lombardia, video shock denuncia gli orrori (Source: Bio Pianeta)

Die grausame Geschichte hinter dem Parmaschinken (Source: BZ Berner Zeitung Langenthaler Tagblatt)

Mutilés, confinés… Les conditions d’élevage des cochons pour le jambon de Parme sont atroces (Source: Daily Geek Show)

Italie : une vidéo dévoile les conditions d’élevage de cochons pour le jambon de Parme (Source: Europe1)

Skandal: Schweine leiden für Parmaschinken (Source: Heute)

Italy’s Parma ham the product of cruelty, animal welfare activists report (Source: Il Globo)

La filière porcine italienne mise à mal (Source: La France Agricole)

Italie : des cochons maltraités pour la fabrication du jambon de Parme (Source: Minute News)

Une enquête dévoile les conditions d’élevages scandaleuses des cochons tués pour le jambon de Parme en Italie (Source: Nouvel Obs/L’Obs)

Le jambon de Parme, une image salie (Source: Observatoire des Aliments)

Italy’s Parma ham the product of cruelty, animal welfare activists report (Source: La Fiamma)

Tierschutzorganisation deckt unglaubliche Zustände auf – VIDEO Schockierende Bilder: In der “Schweinehölle” (Source: Südtirol News)

New shock investigation into pig farm for production of Parma Ham (Source: Holidogtimes.com)

Investigação revela terrível realidade dos porcos usados para produção de presunto de Parma (Source: Escolha Veg)

Productie van parmaham gaat gepaard met veel dierenleed’ (Source: Radar Avrotros)

Italian pig farms accused of poor treatment (Source: DQ Yam)

Consorzio di Parma beticht Gaia van misbruik (Source: Vlees Magazine)

Mis peitub kuulsa Parma singi tootmise taga tegelikult? (Source: Lemmikloom)

Animalìe. Gli animalisti europei contro il prosciutto di Parma (Source: E-Gazette)

Juurdlused paljastavad ebaseaduslikke tegevusi kuulsa Parma singi tootmisel (Source: Bioneer)

Maiali maltrattati”: gli animalisti europei lanciano l’allarme sul Prosciutto di Parma (Source: ParmaPress24)

Kako su svinje podijelile Europu (Source: Tportal.hr)

Porcos criados para produzir presunto ‘Parma’ eram mantidos em condições ‘ilegais’, revela uma filmagem secreta (Source: Olhar Animal)