Vion set to resume operations at Leeuwarden abattoir
The abattoir, which began production in March, was forced to halt activities after inspections from the Dutch Food and Consumer Goods Authority (NVWA) found a high percentage of rejected carcases.
Following the closure, Vion said it had worked intensively with NVWA to solve the “teething trouble” associated with the abattoir by adapting the design of its stables to facilitate live inspections of its cows.
Previously, the design had partitions in the stable, which has now been replaced by fencing to allow veterinary inspectors to gain a better view of the animals.
According to Dutch media, an average of 1.8% of carcases in slaughterhouses across the Netherlands are rejected, but 5% of carcases were rejected at the Leeuwarden site in its latest inspection.
Vion said the beef abattoir in Leeuwarden played an important role in the sales of beef from the dairy supply chain in the north of the Netherlands.
“This high-quality chain offers a sustainable sales channel for recognisable meat from the region,” said a Vion Food Group statement. “The latest insights regarding animal welfare and hygiene have been incorporated into the design of the abattoir.”
Vion confirmed to GlobalMeatNews that 25 out of its 50 employees would be reinstated at the site, while others were sent to other sites during the closure.
Vion is an international meat producer with 11,800 employees and production facilities in the Netherlands and Germany. Last year, the business had a turnover of €5.1 billion.
