Brussels, 03/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Surgical castration of pigs is expected to be abandoned by 1st January 2018. This commitment was made by representatives of European farmers, meat industry, retailers, scientists, veterinarians and animal welfare NGOs. On the invitation of the European Commission and the Belgian Presidency these representatives adopted “a European declaration on alternatives to surgical castration pigs”.
Surgical castration (a “painful” operation, even when it is carried out on piglets) is practised to avoid the development of undesirable sexual or aggressive behaviour, and to avoid the development of boar taint. The taste and odour of pig meat is a very important aspect that consumers take into account when buying pork. Alternatives to surgical castration are already being applied in and outside the EU, such as rearing of entire males or vaccination to reduce boar taint. In some countries castration is carried out with analgesia and/or anaesthesia in order to relieve pain. Several countries have already committed themselves to the long term phasing out of surgical castration of pigs.
The declaration states that as a first step, from 1st January 2012, surgical castration of pigs, if carried out, shall be performed with prolonged analgesia and/or anaesthesia with methods mutually recognised.
As a second step and in the long term, surgical castration of pigs should be abandoned by1st January 2018 at the latest. To ensure the implementation of the end of surgical castration the following tools shall be available and applicable: mutually recognised methods for the assessment of boar taint; European recognised reference methods for the measurement of each of the compounds responsible for boar taint; rapid detection methods for boar taint at slaughter plants; reduction of boar taint compounds by pig breeding and/or management and feeding; the production systems and management of entire males during rearing, transport and at slaughter, to minimise sexual and aggressive behaviour.
The costs for implementing the end of surgical castration shall be shared between the economic actors of the chain.
Nevertheless, the text explains that pork meat that is certified as having a “traditional speciality guarantee”, “geographical indications” or pork meat for traditional quality products will inevitably involve castration in an effort to satisfy current quality standards.
Finally, a European partnership will be set up in an effort to develop the instruments needed to attain the targets and ensure that the cost burden is shared fairly. The list of the 18 declaration signatories is available at: (http://www.ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/farm/docs/castration_pigs_ signatories_en.pdf). (L.C./transl.fl)