Fw: Cruelty to Pigs in Taiwan

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sirius

ITD

Friday, June 01, 2007 12:37 AM

Cruelty to Pigs in Taiwan

 

 

 

 

Sirius Global Animal Organisation

NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic

and Social Council of the United Nations

http://sirius.2kat.net

 

 

31st May 2007, For Immediate Release

 

On 20th April 2007, the Taiwanese newspaper the China Post reported on a

survey by the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST) which revealed

that over 70% of all pigs slaughtered in Taiwan are killed in an inhumane

and brutal manner that does not conform with Taiwanese law. The article can

be seen at

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/archives/taiwan/2007420/107574.htm

 

We recognise that, unlike Communist China with which it shares a cultural

background, Taiwan does at least have animal protection laws. Compared to

that country, they have made massive advances in animal welfare, and on

paper at least have some of the best laws in the region. We also recognise

that they are seeking to gradually improve these further to bring them into

line with the West. Laws that are not strictly enforced however are

worthless and such cruel and uncaring treatment of animals is totally

unacceptable. We raised our concerns with the Taipei Economic and Cultural

Office in New Zealand and reproduce an extract from their reply below.

Fighting against animal abuse makes us all more than a little cynical and,

like all advocates for animals, we are naturally impatient for change. We do

however believe that there is a genuine will for change in Taiwan. We will

be monitoring this situation closely.

 

Elly Maynard

President/Founder

Sirius GAO Charitable Trust

http://sirius.2kat.net

 

 

Extract of reply from Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, New Zealand

 

" Regarding the incidents in the slaughterhouses in Taiwan, we have forwarded

your concerns to our government and would like to update you on the

information we've just received. Our government has clear rules stating

that the " Requirements for Slaughter Operation " require all slaughterhouses

to be equipped with means to stun the animals before they were slaughtered.

The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ),

the organisation in charge of reinforcing the law, regularly inspect the

slaughterhouses around the country. In 2006, 8,700,000 animals were

inspected.

 

" BAPHIQ says that three actions have been taken since 2002 to ensure humane

slaughter of animals:

1. All slaughterhouses must have the equipment for stunning. License

will only be issued to a slaughterhouse when the stunning equipments have

been tested.

2. To educate the slaughterhouse owners and workers, BAPHIQ has set up

a group to promote and educate the techniques of humane slaughter. They've

invited experts from the UK to visit slaughterhouses. They also hold

seminars and workshops to promote the ideas of animal welfare to

slaughterhouse workers.

3. BAPHIQ inspect and check the slaughterhouses regularly. Between

2002 and 2006, they inspected 814 slaughterhouses and found 132 of them did

not meet the requirement. All of them were fined and disciplined according

to the " Requirements for Slaughter Operation " . There has been a huge

improvement in the slaughterhouses since 2002.

 

" It's a shame that a few slaughterhouses have not slaughtered animals

humanely despite the rules and the equipments. BAPHIQ asked slaughterhouse

operators to a meeting on 20 April this year, reinforcing government's

requirements for humane slaughter. Slaughterhouses (that) don't meet the

requirements will be fined continuously between NT$30,000 and NT$150,000

(NZ$1,500 - NT$8,000) until they improve.

 

" As to the slaughterhouses found to have slaughtered pigs inhumanely, BAPHIQ

are investigating and will discipline the relevant officers for their

negligence.

 

" (W)e'd like to emphasis that our government take animal welfare issues very

seriously and will take actions to reinforce the law. We appreciate that

you drew this issue to our attention and can assure you that necessary

actions have been taken. "