Although one would like to forget the horror happening in pig farms, today there are still more questions than answers…
Why is CO₂ suffocation, long condemned by animal welfare organizations around the world, being used for the mass killing of pigs, when it is well known how much suffering this causes if misused?
Together with Kalju Tamme, we researched the subject of CO₂ killing, and it became quite horrifying…
We did the math and also relied on Tarmo Terav’s own interview on TV3, where the man described death by suffocation as a calm sleep lasting 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the rest of the world says something entirely different: if CO₂ is used improperly, the result is an extremely agonizing death — the animals experience PANIC, a BURNING SENSATION in their mucous membranes, and DEATH COMES THROUGH TERRIBLE STRESS AND SUFFERING.
I myself was at the Ilmatsalu pig farm, and I cannot claim that there was any professional gassing team present.
We have also all seen the truck trailer being used as a so-called gas chamber. It is certainly not liquid- or gas-tight. If gas leaks out, there can be no uniform gas distribution nor rapid release of gas into the chamber sufficient to kill the pigs quickly. This is also confirmed by the timeframes given in the Vireen CEO’s own interview.
I also received a tip from a person who participated in one of these mass killings, who confirmed that not all pigs dumped in the pile after the gassing were dead, and that they were finished off by being crushed with an excavator bucket.
This entire issue of CO₂ usage and related practices by Vireen and the Estonian Agriculture and Food Board (PTA) requires clear answers to the questions raised. Therefore, I hereby make a public information request, which will also be submitted directly to the PTA and the Ministry.
Brutal and torturous killing of animals must end, even if regulations allow it — human consideration should prevail.
PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUEST TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD BOARD (PTA) AND THE MINISTRY OF REGIONAL AFFAIRS REGARDING THE MASS KILLING OF PIGS IN FARMS
In connection with the mass killings of pigs in Estonia due to African swine fever, I, as an animal welfare advocate and citizen, express deep concern about the humane and legal aspects of the methods being used.
The PTA has contracted Vireen to kill pigs in infected farms using CO₂ gas.
PRINCIPLE OF HUMANE TREATMENT
International science and the European Food Safety Authority have repeatedly acknowledged that CO₂ causes severe sensations of suffocation, panic, and other suffering in animals before loss of consciousness.
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How does the PTA justify the use of this method, knowing it does not meet the highest animal welfare standards?
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Is the use of electric prods in pig farms common and legally permitted?
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How many pigs are killed at once in the gas chamber?
LEGAL BASIS
Vireen AS holds an integrated environmental permit for handling animal by-products, but killing live pigs is not “handling.”
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On what legal basis is Vireen AS permitted to carry out the mass killing of live animals using CO₂?
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Has the PTA issued a special authorization or permit for this? If yes, please provide a copy of the relevant document.
COMPETENCE CERTIFICATION
Do the Vireen employees actually carrying out the killings have valid certificates of competence in accordance with EU Regulation 1099/2009? (CO₂ use is permitted for certain species, including pigs, but only if sufficient concentration is ensured and the animal loses consciousness quickly. The Regulation recognizes that CO₂ may cause serious stress and respiratory irritation before unconsciousness. Therefore, authorities must ensure it is used only when unavoidable and according to strict technical standards.)
If yes, please provide:
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Number of certificates
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Their validity
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The exact methods they cover (is CO₂ on pigs specifically included?)
CONTENT AND ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATES
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How long is the training course after which the certificate is issued?
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Does the training include a practical part on actual pig stunning and killing with CO₂?
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Who conducts the training and what are their qualifications?
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On what legal basis is a mere PTA certificate considered sufficient, when international standards require thorough and specialized training?
SUPERVISION
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How does the PTA ensure that mass killings are conducted only by certified personnel?
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What is the PTA’s on-site supervision process?
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Is a PTA representative present at every killing and are events documented (e.g., protocols, reports)? Please provide all relevant documents.
TRANSPARENCY
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Does the PTA allow independent observers at mass killings? If not, on what legal basis is this prohibited?
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How does the PTA intend to guarantee the public that animal welfare and legal requirements are being met?
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS REGARDING CO₂ USAGE
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How many liters per second of gas are released into the chamber?
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From how many different points is the gas released simultaneously?
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How are these points distributed within the chamber?
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How is overpressure managed?
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How is chamber airtightness ensured?
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How many liters of gas are released each time?
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What is the volume of the chamber?
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Are CO₂ sensors present in the chamber? If yes, how many and at what heights?
Mass killing of animals is an extreme and socially traumatic matter.
The public has the right to know who is actually carrying out the killings, what qualifications they hold, under what permits and laws, and how it is ensured that the animals do not suffer more than absolutely unavoidable.
If the PTA fails to clarify these matters, the authority itself casts doubt on the legality and credibility of its own actions.
Respectfully,
Kristi Metsa, Estonian Animal Protection Union
Kalju Tamme, animal welfare advocate and citizen
