Animal welfare case revisited in court

One year after the animal protection association L214 released footage from the Porto-Vecchio slaughterhouse, criticizing "serious malfunctions" in the slaughter of cattle and sheep, the administrative court of Bastia reviewed two appeals filed by the group on Tuesday. The first sought to overturn the prefect of South Corsica’s refusal to shut down the facility, while the second accused the State of failing in its veterinary control duties.

Footage sparks controversy

The case began in the summer of 2025 after L214 released videos filmed in May and July inside the slaughterhouse. The association claimed animals were "bled while still conscious after failed stunning" and described "shearing movements" during ritual slaughter. It also accused the Departmental Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP) of South Corsica of complicity and demanded the facility be closed.

Prefect contests the claims

The prefect of South Corsica disputed the association’s interpretation of the footage, calling it a "misleading video montage." The prefect argued that existing inspections did not justify closing the slaughterhouse. An investigation was later opened by the gendarmerie of Porto-Vecchio, focusing on potential "serious mistreatment and ill-treatment" of animals. A few days later, the prefect issued a formal notice and suspended the facility’s operations.

Court dismisses some claims

During the hearing, the public rapporteur stated there was "no longer a need to rule" on the appeal to overturn the prefect’s refusal to suspend the slaughterhouse, as the suspension had already been implemented. He also found the association’s other claims inadmissible, noting that the suspension had already stopped the slaughter activities.

Veterinary oversight under scrutiny

The rapporteur focused on whether the State’s veterinary services had committed a fault in their oversight of the facility. L214 alleged violations of animal welfare rules, including improper immobilization of animals and failure to verify their loss of consciousness before bleeding. The rapporteur confirmed that some of these claims were supported by the released footage, particularly regarding cattle immobilization practices.

Lack of inspections raises concerns

However, the rapporteur noted that no inspection reports were provided for the years 2020 to 2022, and only a single conformity check was conducted in 2023. A new inspection in June 2025 revealed "significant non-conformities concerning ritual slaughter." The absence of regular inspections and documented follow-up was deemed a fault in the State’s performance.

Compensation and legal costs proposed

L214 requested 30,000 euros in compensation, including 20,000 euros for material damage. The public rapporteur proposed 4,000 euros for moral damage and 1,500 euros for legal costs, considering the State’s administrative shortcomings. He also recommended rejecting the State’s request for L214 to pay 10,000 euros or remove the footage, as no sufficient damage was proven. The final decision by the administrative court remains pending.