Six shocking investigations reaffirm systematic cruel and unlawful practices in Parma ham production

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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)