November 29, 2021

France to ban piglet castration without anaesthesia and analgesia

As of January 1, 2022, castration of piglets in France must be performed painlessly under anaesthesia and analgesia, pig333.com reported.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food has published a ministerial order and a technical instruction specifying the conditions under which piglets may be castrated on farms for purposes other than therapeutic or diagnostic.

Besides the new implementation, entailing additional costs would be covered for farmers. Castration will only be conducted in the presence of a quality label or the signing of an Egalim2 contract guaranteeing that production costs are considered. The exceptions provided for by the Egalim2 law also apply: direct sale, small farms, etc.