In a recent statement, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen criticized Danish farmers for their practice of sending pigs for slaughter abroad, which has had serious consequences for employment in Danish slaughterhouses. This practice has led to the closure of two major slaughterhouses in Sæby and Ringsted, resulting in the loss of around 2000 jobs. During a question time in the Folketing (Danish Parliament), the Prime Minister expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation and called on the agricultural sector to take greater responsibility for the national economy and local communities by ensuring that pig slaughtering takes place within the country’s borders.
“I don’t understand why Danish farmers are exporting pigs out of Denmark to the extent we see,” Frederiksen said. This issue was raised in connection with a debate on the introduction of a CO2 tax on agriculture, where the leader of the Danish People’s Party (Danmarksdemokraterne), Inger Støjberg, asked if the Prime Minister could guarantee that the new tax would not cost additional jobs. The Prime Minister emphasized that the government’s goal with the CO2 tax is to reduce environmental and climate impact while ensuring that Danes have jobs to go to.
Mette Frederiksen pointed out that the current practice of sending pigs for slaughter abroad not only negatively affects the environment due to long-distance transportation but also harms the local economy and society as a whole. She expressed deep concern for the families affected by job losses and called for a change in the agricultural sector’s approach to where their pigs are slaughtered.
“It’s unfortunate for the pigs that must endure long journeys, and I think it’s regrettable for the families in Sæby and in North Jutland, and the families in Ringsted and on Zealand, who are losing their jobs,” Frederiksen said. The Prime Minister hopes that a dialogue can be established with the agricultural sector to support the preservation of jobs in Denmark, which will benefit both animal welfare and the local economy.