The Government did not find "any incident" at the chicken farms reported

PalmaThe Government reported that it inspected last week all the chicken farms that were denounced by animal rights organizations and did not detect "any noteworthy incident". This was detailed this Tuesday by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment, Joan Simonet, in response to a question from PSIB deputy Malena Riudavets during this Tuesday's parliamentary plenary session.

It should be noted that the farms were reported for unsanitary conditions and the possible non-compliance with animal welfare regulations. In the images made public by the animal and environmental protection organizations ARDE and Satya Animal, eggs with mites, cockroaches, and live hens living alongside carcasses in different states of decomposition can be seen. Furthermore, as they detail, cases of cannibalism have even been documented. All of this, in both complaints, was accompanied by a report from a titular veterinarian who reinforced their complaint.

In light of these facts and following the inspection, Simonet assured that "after receiving the first video claiming that they were images recorded at the Mirabó farm, they sent inspectors to farms throughout the group and nothing from what appeared in the images was found, and the farms passed the inspections without detectable incidents". Given this fact, he added that a file has now been opened and an investigation is underway where technicians are assessing the veracity of these images. Regarding this case, the minister remarked that "I do not know how it stands". All in all, Simonet considered that it is not for him nor the opposition to "judge prematurely facts that must be assessed by the officials" who apply the regulations".

Simonet has also been critical of animal rights activists and, while he assures that the veracity of the images is being investigated, he is already publicly questioning them, asking himself "why they waited three months after recording them to send them by mail to the ministry".

All this controversy is taking place while Manacor fights to stop the Avícola Son Perot project to build a farm for 80,000 laying hens on the Son Brau estate. As reported by ARA Balears, this project (which aspires to produce 26.5 million eggs annually) presents urban planning non-compliances and serious shortcomings in environmental matters. This is warned by the mandatory reports issued by the Manacor City Council. It must be noted, however, that despite the unfavorable reports, the final decision on environmental authorization corresponds to the Government of the Balearic Islands, which will have to assess the project and the deficiencies pointed out by the municipal services.