Chewable and manipulable material (litter) - pork
Level: Core
When pigs have access to suitable litter in quantities that satisfy their need to stay occupied the risk of tail biting is reduced and the ability to express their natural behaviour increases. Examples of suitable litter include straw, peat, wood shavings, hay, and combinations thereof.1 Contracting authorities that set criteria regarding the permanent access to litter help to satisfy the occupational needs of pigs and increase their ability to express normal behaviour.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10439:1
- Group:
- Pork
Criterion text
Pork must be derived from pigs that have daily access to litter materials, such as straw, peat or shavings. Litter for pigs must be malleable and supplied in sufficient quantity so as to provide the comfort and occupation that pigs need.
During the week prior to farrowing, sows and gilts must have access to litter for their nesting behaviour.
Verification
Upon request the supplier shall be ready to present, for example, one of the following:
- Certification that meets the requirement, such as IP gris grundcertifiering [IP Pig base level certification], a Bedre Dyrevelfaerd label with a level of at least two hearts, Antonius certification, or other certification showing that the requirement is met.
- Details of country of origin of pork ingredients and reference to applicable law in cases where national legislation establishes that the requirement is met, e.g. Origin: Sweden, chapter 4, sections 3-5, and general recommendations for chapter 4, section 4 and 5 of L 106 SJVFS (2019:20).
Proposed follow-up
Monitoring of compliance during the contract period can for example be done through sampling at one or several occasions of one or several products for which the criterion applies. The supplier can prove that the product(s) meet the requirement through, e.g,:
- IP gris grundcertifiering [IP Pig base level certification], a Bedre Dyrevelfaerd label with a level of at least two hearts, Antonius certification or other certification showing that the requirement is met.
- Labelling the country of origin of pork ingredients, e.g., Origin: Sweden 'Från Sverige' [From Sweden] 'Kött från Sverige' [Meat from Sweden], with written documentation showing that the requirement has been met, e.g., an Importer's Declaration along with a self-assessment in accordance with Miljöhusesyn.
- Other written documentation showing that the requirement is met.
Contracting authorities may, in specific cases and when motivated, state in the contract terms that documentation is to be verified or reviewed by an independent third party. What does this mean? (only in Swedish)
Subject matter of contract
Products of pork with environmental and animal protection criteria
Information about the criterion
Market availbility may be limited for individual products.
Organic production also establishes that litter is provided for the pigs.
Motive
Pigs must have access to manipulable material that changes form and character in order to keep them interested and occupied, such as straw, peat, wood shavings, hay, and combinations thereof, according Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs.
Litter for pigs must have the correct properties and be supplied in sufficient quantity so as to provide the comfort and occupation that pigs need according to the Swedish Board of Agriculture Regulation SJVFS 2019:20 Saknr. L106. Litter for pigs should therefore contain material that pigs like to root around in, chew on and investigate. Chains and balls are not manipulable and are therefore not sufficient in order to satisfy a pig's need to stay occupied.
Regarding litter for comfort, the Pork – Animal Welfare appendix to the Swedish Board of Agriculture's Guide for Inspection Authorities states that it may be necessary to cover floor surfaces with a protective layer of litter to reduce the pigs' contact with the floor1. This is of particular importance when the floor is made from concrete where the surface is too rough due to things such as wear or unsuitable surface treatment when casting. It may also be necessary to cover slatted floors with litter if they cause injury to the pigs.
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 10439:1
- Version date
- 2020-03-25
2020-03-25: Changed title from ”Chewable material" Increased the text according to SJVFS 2019:20 enhanced that the need for occupation and comfort of pigs is to be met by the litter. Added examples of verification and monitoring.