Published 16/05/2012

The director of Creek Project Investments has recently suspended the proceedings of a factory farm after Compassion highlighted serious animal welfare concerns. This is a reason to celebrate!

Dil Peeling, Director of Public Affairs at Compassion in World Farming said:

Animal welfare has prevailed. The suspension of this factory farm has the potential to save 100 million geese from the horrifying practices of foie gras farming. We are elated that our voice of reason and concern was heard.

Together with our friends at Humane Society International/UK, we wrote to Creek Projects, a British company based in Cambridgeshire, urging the company to stop funding animal cruelty.

It was reported that Creek Projects Investments PLC had invested millions of pounds to build what would have been the largest foie gras facility in China. According to its website, 15 million geese were expected to be delivered over the next five years, with 100 million to be farmed in that timescale.

Foie gras production in China is expanding rapidly, principally to satisfy growing domestic demand from the Chinese middle class for international food. China is fast becoming one of world's largest consumers and producers of foie gras.

This intensive farming practice is widely condemned for being cruel and animal protection laws effectively prohibit the practice throughout much of Europe including the UK, in addition to specific bans in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, the UK, most Austrian provinces, Turkey, Israel and the US state of California.

Mark Jones, veterinarian and Executive Director of Humane Society International/UK, said:

We're delighted to see that the company has now acknowledged the strength of public opposition to foie gras farming by suspending their plans pending a review, and hope that in reviewing the disastrous animal welfare, environmental and human health impacts of this project, they abandon their plans indefinitely.