In Wallonia, force-feeding is still authorised and practised by a dozen industrialists who constitute 0. 1% of EU production and 5% of Belgian consumption. [Victoria Moloman/Shutterstock]
The Flemish region of Belgium, Flanders, will no longer force animals to be fed to produce foie gras because the region closed its last production plant in early 2023.
Read the article in French here.
The resolution to end comes after Flemish Animal Welfare Minister Ben Weyts promised to abolish force-feeding until the end of 2023.
This will leave Flanders the circle of foie gras manufacturers in the EU, joining France, Hungary, Bulgaria and the rest of Belgium.
“I’m glad the company doesn’t necessarily have to continue,” Weyts said after the foie gras maker announced its resolution to close a year ahead of schedule.
“We no longer do those activities in Flanders, but we have provided compensation. In this way, the company can prevent those activities in a dignified way,” he added.
By the end of this year, force-feeding will be officially banned in Flanders! ??
Good @ jobrouns1 ? pic. twitter. com/7Qevn1hYLz
— Compassion in EU Global Agriculture (@CIWF_EU) 4 January 2023
But according to Euro Foie gras, a fix on the product and livestock in Europe, this resolution is incomprehensible.
“Belgian manufacturers set an example in animal welfare, with their smart practices qualified through public services,” the agreement said in 2019 when the Flemish parliament adopted a decree banning force-feeding.
“They do not perceive this attack on their production when their animals enjoy the criteria of welfare of the world,” he added at the time.
According to the ban, the Flemish company can continue to sell foie gras, but it will do so from France or the Belgian region of Wallonia.
In Wallonia, force-feeding is still authorised and practised by a dozen industrialists who constitute 0. 1% of EU production and 5% of Belgian consumption.
“It’s like banning pudding in France,” said the director of Cifog, adding that “we are attacking a remote producer. It’s even sadder. “
At the same time, environmental teams like Gaia will extend the ban to the rest of Belgium.
Last December, the settlement submitted a petition to the Walloon parliament, which collected more than 6650 signatures, 1578 electronic signatures, to ban the practice.
“Flanders is taking the lead in Europe for greater animal welfare,” Weyts said, adding that “a civilized society has a duty to make animals suffer as much as possible. “
Even if the Walloon industry remains relatively modest with just over a hundred employees, foie gras suggests that the higher intake of Belgian products among the world’s largest customer of this delicacy will help keep the industry afloat for many years to come.
After a complicated year due to bird flu, the foie gras industry is taking a hit as the holidays approach, meaning you may be missing from French tables in the run-up to Christmas.
[Edited via Natasha Foote]