Denmark’s Pig Research Centre (VSP) has reported that only two producers in the country have failed to meet the loose sows standard introduced following the sow-stall ban and, as a consequence, have lost their DANISH quality approved certificates.
The announcement came after VSP’s board and steering committee, which supports the DANISH scheme, contacted all producers that had not yet had a farm inspection in 2013 and asked them to issue a sworn statement that their units complied with the new regulations.
“The result is that two herds have lost their DANISH certificates because they do not meet the rules,” Nicolaj Nørgaard of VSP said. “There’s also a small handful that were not able to be reported completely clear because they’re waiting for planning permission to complete alterations. The authorities’ processing time for environmental applications has been averaging 43 months, but as these herds all began the process a considerable time ago, they will be ready within a few months, and so can keep their DANISH certificate on special conditions.
“I’m proud that we’re now in a situation where we have a documented basis to report Denmark compliant with the 2013 rules, but we must not forget that there are some pig farmers who have been forced to stop production, and it has led to a decline in sow numbers.”