Half of French Sows Now Group–Housed

EU - The French pig producers’ association is calling for a doubling of financial support to farmers to help them convert to sow stalls to systems that comply with the coming EU regulations.

5 March 2012

3 minute read

By: Jackie Linden

The support system for post–2012 is being finalised at the FNP (French National Federation of Pig Producers), according to the latest BPEX Export Bulletin.

By 1 January 2013, all pig houses will have to be up to EU standards and according to FNP, 10 to 12 per cent of producers will not be able to cover the required costs.

Previous estimates have already pointed to a reduction of the breeding herd and the financial support to pig producers to raise their standards will be €15 million. This amount is due to be confirmed at the next board meeting of FranceAgriMer on 22 March.

Jean–Michel Serres, President of FNP, has called for this amount to be doubled. The deficit of trade balance of France with EU countries amounts to €139 million and pig meat consumption in France decreased by 1.9 per cent in 2011. The development of the VPF logo will not be enough to solve all the problems of the industry, he says.

In the same BPEX report, Boerderij Vandaag is cited as reporting that 50 per cent of sow places in France are now converted to group housing systems that comply with the coming EU regulation. This compares with 80 per cent in Denmark, 70 per cent in Italy and the Netherlands and 50 per cent in Spain.