Finland to go back on ban on piglet castration due to industry demands 

The new Finnish Animal Welfare Act which was in the making for over a decade, is to be amended in order to remove the ban on the surgical castration of piglets. 

The matter came to light at the Farm Animal Welfare Council meeting on Thursday 3 April. The representative of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said that the reason for the removal of the ban is due to the demands of the animal industry. According to the industry, the ban on castration is too costly. In addition, the ban is perceived to hinder pork exports.  

The Finnish animal rights organisation Animalia is appalled that a key element reducing animal suffering is being removed from the law, simply to facilitate the export of pork. At the same time, Spain and the Netherlands export meat from uncastrated pigs. There is will among Finniish pork producers to move away from surgical castration and some are committed to doing so.  

”This is yet another example of how the animal industry dictates legislation. Despite voluntary commitments, the industry has not moved away from surgical castration, and now it won’t happen through legislation either,” says Animalia’s Executive Director Heidi Kivekäs.  

The Animal Welfare Act, which only came into force in 2024, banned the surgical castration of piglets within a transitional period of 12 years. Immediately after the law came into force, anti-inflammatory medication was made compulsory for piglet castration. From 2027, the law also requires local anaesthesia. The ban on surgical castration would not come into force until 2035. Animalia has called for the transition period to be shortened.  

”The Animal Law was well over 10 years in the making under several governments, and now it is being opened up for amendments in the blink of an eye, because the meat industry demands it. It is shocking that this is even possible. The question arises, what part of the law will be changed next on animal industry demand?” Kivekäs asks.  

Castration causes severe pain to animals  

Piglets are castrated because of boar taint which can occur in the meat of some uncastrated pigs. Surgical castration is known to cause pain as well as chronic and acute stress to piglets. Painkillers alone do little to reduce welfare problems. After the actual procedure, pain persists for several days. 

”If the Animal Welfare Act, which is already in force, is so fragile and vulnerable to the demands of the industry, we might as well be talking about an Animal Industry Act. We demand that the ban be kept in law and its transition period shortened,” says Kivekäs.  

In its report published in 2022, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended that surgical castration should not be performed because it seriously compromises the welfare of piglets. The report recommends immunocastration as a preferred alternative. The Finnish Veterinary Association has also stated that the surgical castration of pigs should be completely abandoned within the time limit.