After allegations against a slaughterhouse in Aschaffenburg, the public prosecutor’s office has started investigations on suspicion of tormenting animal abuse. This was announced by a spokesman for the authorities on Monday. He did not provide any information about the suspects. The Bavarian Control Authority for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (KBLV) had previously prohibited the operation of the slaughterhouse for the time being. The agency had received video footage from an animal rights organization.
From this material there were indications of sometimes serious animal welfare violations in the slaughtering process, it said. As a result, the KBLV was checked unannounced and a search was carried out on behalf of the public prosecutor. The slaughterhouse initially left an inquiry unanswered.
Several workers at the slaughterhouse were banned by the KBLV from continuing to work on stunning or killing animals. According to the information, slaughtering may only be resumed if it can be guaranteed that all animal welfare requirements are consistently observed. The KBLV must give approval for this. When this will be the case is open, said a spokesman on Monday.
According to the KBLV, the operation for slaughtering pigs and cattle was last checked in April of this year. “No serious animal welfare violations” were found.