On 9 December 2025, the Volkskrant published images (made by research group Ongehoord) of abuses at cattle and calf collection centres. The NVWA called the images “shocking”.
The NVWA describes what can be seen. At one location, according to the NVWA, there is serious animal cruelty: a cow lying down being repeatedly kicked hard, then subjected to prolonged treatment with a cattle-driving device that delivers electric shocks, and finally, while the animal is fully conscious, dragged away hanging by its hind leg. In addition, the NVWA sees animals in the footage being treated “unnecessarily roughly and harshly”.
A criminal investigation is ongoing. The original footage has been requisitioned. And NVWA is using “various avenues” to reach appropriate measures towards the companies involved.
The basic rules for welfare during transport are not new and come from the EU, with Regulation (EC) 1/2005 as the foundation. In practice, this affects more than just the driver. Collection centres, trade and parties organising transport are in the same playing field of duties and choices.
So for entrepreneurs, this is not “collective guilt”. It is chain logic though: you are responsible for what you do yourself, and you are co-responsible for what you continue to accept, facilitate or contract away.
In the Netherlands, trajectories have been running for some time that tie in exactly with this type of case.
In a public government planning exercise, mandatory camera surveillance in slaughterhouses and assembly centres is already on the agenda with target date 1st quarter 2026. And on 10 December 2025, a decree was published on banning electric livestock equipment in livestock production.
These are complementary national instruments.
This file is about behaviour that is not allowed, and that includes being called to account. Chain-wide, too.
In practical terms, this means three things for entrepreneurs in particular. Clear boundaries on the shop floor that also hold up under pressure. Clear agreements with chain partners on what happens in case of incidents and recurrences. To be able to see that “this is how we do it here” is not a slogan but a work process.
The images are unctuous enough. The solution need not be.
