Animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is a key priority for Vion and an essential part of responsible food production. We work continuously with farmers, transport partners, employees and other stakeholders to safeguard and improve animal welfare throughout the supply chain. This starts with compliance with legislation and recognised quality standards and is further strengthened through continuous improvements and welfare programmes that go beyond legal requirements.
Our approach to animal welfare is based on internationally recognised principles, including the Five Freedoms as set out in the Brambell Report. These principles aim to ensure that animals:
- are free from hunger and thirst through access to fresh water and a diet that maintains health and vitality;
- are free from discomfort by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area;
- are free from pain, injury and disease through prevention, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment;
- are free to express normal behaviour by providing sufficient space, appropriate facilities and the company of animals of their own species;
- are free from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and handling that minimise unnecessary stress and suffering.
European and national legislation
EU law provides a legal framework for minimum animal welfare requirements that applies to all European countries. National legislation provides a legal framework for minimum animal welfare requirements applicable to specific EU member states. In the Netherlands specifically, the standard for living space is higher than the European standard. In addition, Dutch pigs for meat production have at least 40% solid floor area.
Quality labels to guarantee animal welfare throughout the chain
In the Netherlands, the IKB quality mark (Integrated Chain Management) is used, in Germany the QS (Qualität & Sicherheit) quality mark. The regulations of these quality labels guarantee that the standards of animal welfare, animal health and food safety are met. Vion believes it is important that all animals raised according to certified standards have had a good life. For that reason, Vion is only affiliated with companies that are certified with the IKB or QS quality mark.
Farmers holding this certification are regularly independently audited to ensure compliance with regulations. In this way, compliance with basic animal welfare standards with our suppliers is ensured.
Control and transparency of animal welfare is an important point in Vion’s strategy to create trust in the products and the chain. Vion wants to take the lead in welfare discussions and fulfill its role in monitoring the welfare status in the chain. Our animal welfare strategy consists of different levels of animal welfare control. Our goals are:
- Helping farmers in the continuous improvement of animal welfare;
- Provide transporters with information to evaluate and improve the animal transport process;
- Provide customers, consumers and society with certainty with regard to the management of animal welfare in the chain;
- Create trust and have a professional reputation for animal welfare and transparency among all stakeholders.
FarmingNet
With the FarmingNet program, Vion helps farmers in the process of continuous improvement of their stables and animal welfare. FarmingNet is an online information system for the pig farmer. The system gives the pig farmer direct insight into the weights and the muscle and fat thickness of the delivered animals. In addition, the pig farmer receives extra information, for example about the performance per department. This provides important knowledge about the health of the pigs and the balance. Moreover, it is possible to anonymously compare multiple locations or companies. Together with the Vion Farming employee, the intermediary, the veterinarian and / or the feed advisor, the pig farmer can use the data to improve the result. In many cases, the propagator is also involved in this improvement process.
RundveeNet
Dairy farmers can also collaborate with Vion in the RundveeNet program. Via this programme, they have access to Vion’s slaughter data and, in consultation with their veterinarian, try to prevent possible abnormalities or disorders in their herd in the long term.
Market concepts
In addition to European and national legislation and quality marks, Vion has developed several market concepts. 22% of all animals processed at Vion have been raised according to these certified higher animal welfare requirements.
Vion’s chains are designed in such a way that animals grow up in accordance with (inter) national welfare standards. Each animal is given a lot of peace and space.
Good Farming Balance
The international market for pork is growing and developing strongly. Meanwhile, Vion has veterinary certificates for access to virtually all countries in the world. Different countries and customers ask for specific parts of the pig; customers’ requirements are becoming more and more specific. Moreover, customers want to make price agreements for a longer term more often.
In 2017, Vion introduced Good Farming Balance. A demand-driven chain concept with which we respond to the specific demand in international markets. Together with our pig farmers, we ensure that we can produce exactly the products that customers want, in the desired specification. This requires targeted coordination.
Good Farming Welfare
Good Farming Welfare focuses entirely on animal welfare standards set by major international retailers. This starts with carefully selected pig farmers who are committed to the welfare of their animals, and extends to dedicated retailers who value these efforts. The Good Farming Welfare chain concept explicitly focuses on higher animal welfare standards than the current market standards, based on international (retail) guidelines such as those in the USA and the UK. This joint commitment ensures a transparent, audited and reliable chain in which animals are raised with care and meat is produced with attention to quality and sustainability.
Good Farming Star
Good Farming Star is a concept introduced in 2010 that pays extra attention to animal welfare and sustainability. Within this concept, Vion works together with some 165 Dutch Good Farming Star pig farmers. In Dutch supermarkets, the meat may bear one star of the Beter Leven quality mark. 17 percent of the animals processed by Vion in the Netherlands meet the Beter Leven Keurmerk 1 Star. The companies have an agreement with Vion in which the animal welfare requirements of the Good Farming Star concept are guaranteed. All links in the chain from the farm to the shop shelf are independently certified and audited. Vion actively coaches and supports pig farmers in this process.
Good Farming Organic
The Good Farming Organic demand-driven market concept is a powerful organic supply chain from farmer to plate. Within this concept, pigs are fed organic feed, given peace and space to live and grow, and are able to go outside throughout their lives. The meat is genuinely delicious and has the highest rating of three stars within the Beter Leven label.
The European organic meat market is growing strongly and De Groene Weg, a subsidiary of Vion, is exclusively devoted to organic beef and pork. Our twelve butchers in the Netherlands and our position as a supplier for a number of large retail chains makes De Groene Weg the market leader in the Dutch organic meat sector. Since our beginnings in 1981, the company has been growing with the market to maintain its leading position. The company is also one of the European market leaders, selling some of its meat outside the Netherlands.