Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - After covert recordings from a now closed slaughterhouse in Backnang and sharp criticism from animal rights activists, the SPD is also demanding political consequences. "For years we have been demanding that the slaughterhouses in the country be better controlled so that this disgusting animal cruelty is prevented," said SPD parliamentary group leader Andreas Stoch on Wednesday in Stuttgart. "Obviously Minister of Agriculture Hauk is not doing his job." Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann must finally act, Stoch demanded.
Covert recordings from a slaughterhouse in Backnang had previously caused unrest in the meat industry, which was already plagued by scandal. According to the company concerned, it has suspended its slaughtering for the time being and released two employees from work. The company intends to continue production and sales in its 16 branches. The fourth-generation family business employs around 140 people.
"The recordings document possible irregularities when cattle are brought in and when individual animals are stunned," the company said. The ARD magazine "Report Mainz" showed the sequences from August 16 to the company as a compilation. The pictures of the animal rights organization "Soko Tierschutz" are said to have been taken secretly.
As early as 2020, the SPD had called for the dismissal of Minister Peter Hauk after recordings from slaughterhouses in Tauberbischofsheim, Gärtringen and Biberach put the CDU politician under pressure. At the time, he had announced cameras in the farms, investments in more animal welfare, training and additional control personnel in a livestock protection plan. Most of the larger slaughterhouses in the country are now also filming the processes in order to better control the employees when stunning and killing the animals.
"Individual cases like these show that, despite everything, human error can never be ruled out 100 percent," said a ministry spokesman on request. "We expect that if they are detected, the local authorities will take appropriate action."
