October 5, 2020

German farming association calls for longer operating hours for meatpackers

Germany's Association of German Farm Cooperatives said meatpackers and slaughterhouses in the country need to operate for longer hours to compensate for decreased processing capacity following high standards for COVID-19 prevention, Reuters reported.

Franz-Josef Holzenkamp, president of the Association of German Farm Cooperatives said the slaughterhouses in the country are operating under reduced processing capacity due to higher standards imposed to meet the new demands of COVID-19 prevention.

Holzenkamp said this meant farmers are experiencing delays finding slaughterhouses for their swine, adding that swine can only be sent with major delays with livestock backlogs at farms.

Association of German Farm Cooperatives wants the government to relax time limitations on slaughterhouse operations, particularly on Sundays.

Holzenkamp said farmers are affected by declining swine prices caused by German pork bans following the African swine fever discovery in early September.

-          Reuters