Animal welfare is a non-negotiable principle for Costa Brava Mediterranean Foods. It is part of our ethical, sustainability, biosecurity, and food safety principles. For this reason, the Spanish pork sector is the most demanding in the European Union when protecting the pigs.

To advance in this area, the Interprofessional Organization of White Pork (INTERPORC) has developed an initiative that reinforces the commitment of farmers, slaughterhouses, and industry to animal welfare through the Technical Regulation on Animal Welfare and Biosecurity, named Interporc Animal Welfare Spain (IAWS).

This Regulation ensures compliance with the so-called Five Freedoms principle, which is guaranteed when the five animal welfare requirements are met: The animal does not suffer thirst, hunger, or malnutrition, because it has constant access to water and is provided with a diet appropriate to its needs. The animal does not suffer physical or thermal stress because it is provided with an adequate environment, including shelter from the weather and a comfortable resting area. The animal does not suffer pain, injuries, or diseases thanks to proper prevention and rapid diagnosis and treatment. The animal is able to show most of its normal behavior patterns because it is provided with appropriate facilities and housed in the company of other individuals of its species. Lastly, the animal does not experience fear because the necessary conditions are guaranteed to avoid mental suffering.

For this reason, at Costa Brava Mediterranean Foods we have achieved, through a detailed audit, the IAWS certification from Interporc for our Riudellots de la Selva center, which guarantees compliance with the strictest requirements of animal welfare, food safety, and traceability with our livestock.