The Danish Agriculture and Food Council (DAFC) has threatened legal action over the government's proposed one-year suspension of permits for new conventional pig farms and for expanding existing ones, Pig World reports, citing the Copenhagen Post.
The freeze is part of the government's plan for a radical reform of the pig sector to improve welfare and sustainability and cut production, in particular to curb Denmark's large live export trade. It is due to take effect on 26 October, and applications submitted since 23 September will be assessed under the proposed rules.
"If the amendment to the executive order is implemented, a number of lawsuits regarding liability for compensation for economic losses as a result of the regulation must be expected," the council said. Christian Fink Hansen, its pig sector director, called for an assessment of the economic impact on businesses. Several legal experts have questioned whether the minister has the authority to impose the restrictions.
Nature and Animal Welfare Minister Christian Rabjerg Madsen rejected the concerns, citing assessments by lawyers in his ministry and the Justice Ministry: "I am completely at ease. I do not make an amendment to an executive order without an assessment of the legal basis having been carried out." The government's June platform had proposed legislation, but he used an executive order, which needs no parliamentary approval.
The government says the suspension will stay in place while future production rules are negotiated with the pig industry. The report is by Alistair Driver.
Photo: Zeilog / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Source: Pig World
Comments
(0)