Pigs in loose housing
Level: Core
Pigs in loose housing are able to express natural behaviour in more ways than pigs whose freedom of movement is limited for long periods of time. Freedom of movement may, however, need to be temporarily limited during feeding, care and treatment, or when pigs display aggressive behaviour. Contracting authorities that set criteria for the use of loose housing help to encourage production that allows pigs to express more of their natural behaviour.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10437:1
- Group:
- Pork
- Swedish:
Criterion text
Pork must be derived from production where all pigs are kept in loose housing systems during the entire breeding period. Sows may not be restrained when farrowing. In exceptional cases, if sows exhibit aggressive or abnormal behaviour that clearly puts piglets in danger, freedom of movement may be temporarily restricted with the help of a protective gate or similar for a maximum of three days. Protective gates or similar arrangements may also be used temporarily if the sow's behaviour constitutes a clear risk to the safety of the handler, or if the sow is being handled for treatment and procedures.
A pig that is especially aggressive towards other pigs may be kept temporarily on its own in a compartment where it is able to turn around without difficulty.
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 2, section 12 of the Animal Welfare Protection Ordinance and chapter 2, sections 8-9 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] or '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
The Pork - Animal Welfare appendix to the Swedish Board of Agriculture's Guide for Inspection Authorities (Vägledning till kontrollmyndigheter) states that protective barriers during the first few days of piglets' lives should be used for as short a time as possible—there is little justification for using them for longer than two or three days other than in exceptional cases. The guide also states that, if a protective barrier is used in day-to-day handling during feeding or treatment, the sow must be released as soon as the work or treatment is complete. Read the Guide (only in Swedish)
Market availability may be limited for individual products.
Organic production also assures that pigs have been kept in loose housing.
Motive
Pigs in loose housing are able to express natural behaviour in more ways than those whose freedom of movement is severely limited for long periods of time. This requirement goes beyond the so-called EU Pig Directive, which accepts restraining sows during insemination, farrowing or the suckling period. They must be kept in a group from four weeks after insemination until one week before farrowing.1 Section 12 of the Swedish Animal Welfare Protection Ordinance (2019:66) states that pigs must be kept in loose housing. A pig's freedom of movement may be restricted only temporarily and in exceptional cases, as stated in Regulation SJVFS (2019:20) L106, chapter 2, section 10 of the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
The Pork - Animal Welfare appendix to the Swedish Board of Agriculture's Guide for Inspection Authorities (Vägledning till kontrollmyndigheter) states that abnormal behaviour in sows that could cause harm to piglets is, according to the industry's own estimates, uncommon and occurs in 2-5% of cases.2 Protective barriers during the first few days of piglets' lives should be used for as short a time as possible—there is little justification for using them for longer than two or three days other than in exceptional cases. The guide also states that, if a protective barrier is used in day-to-day handling during feeding or treatment, the sow must be released as soon as the work or treatment is complete.
1 EU Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of 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
- 10437:1
- Version date
- 2020-03-25
2020-03-25: Criterion is developed accordning to Swedish animal protection act (2019:66) and SJVFS 2019:20. Clarified exceptions and acceptable timeframe for use of protective gate. Examples of verification and monitoring added.