Closure of the Only Abattoir in Alpes-Maritimes Sparks Outrage Among Farmers
The Puget-Théniers abattoir has been closed since a fire in November 2024, severely affecting local livestock producers.
On November 16, 2024, a fire partially destroyed the Puget-Théniers abattoir, the only facility servicing livestock farmers in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France.
As the shutdown continues for nearly five months, anxiety and frustration are mounting among farmers, such as Thierry Froehlich, a representative of the Confédération paysanne.
He criticized the lack of communication regarding the progress of repairs and expressed concerns about the potential reopening, tentatively suggested for late June without guarantees.
Farmers are poised for a critical period as Easter approaches, highlighting growing tensions caused by the facility's closure.
The consequences for local adhere to the livestock sector has been significant, encompassing revenue loss, temporary unemployment, and a weakening of local supply chains.
Froehlich has noted that due to the risk of bluetongue disease, he increased his herd size by 20%, potentially raising it to 200-250 animals.
Farmers face logistical challenges as they must transport livestock to abattoirs located in Sisteron, Digne, or Gap—a process made complex by long distances and high transportation costs.
Transporting animals to distant facilities results in low economic viability, as only a few animals can be moved per trip, with a limited time frame of 15 days to sell the meat.
Nicolas Perrichon, a sheep farmer in Tourrettes, emphasized that the lemon attempts to coordinate sheep collection within the eastern Var take about three to three and a half hours, compared to just one hour to Puget-Théniers, escalating carbon emissions concerns.
Some farmers have resorted to selling their animals 'on foot' due to operational challenges imposed by the closure, deepening their economic difficulties.
The need for a structured solution is echoed by Froehlich, who calls for representation within decision-making bodies and for improved tools tailored to the sector's needs—the request reinforced in a letter by Confédération paysanne 06 to local authorities, including Charles Ange Ginésy, president of the Alpes-Maritimes department, and Pierre Corporandy, the mayor of Puget-Théniers.
In light of the situation, the Alpes-Maritimes Department has communicated its commitment to expedite reopening efforts.
The local prefecture has been alerted to the urgency of restoring operations, aligning with strict regulatory requirements.
The syndicate managing the abattoir is collaborating with state services to secure necessary authorizations, working alongside the newly formed Association of Abattoir Users to ensure stakeholder involvement in ongoing deliberations.
The leadership of the Association of Abattoir Users, which comprises members affiliated with the FNSEA, has expressed confidence in local authorities' actions.
Jean-Pierre Cavallo, the association's president and a farmer from Fontan, reports that positive discussions took place during a site visit in late March.
While he acknowledges frustrations with the Confédération paysanne's position, he maintains an optimistic perspective on the process of addressing operational challenges at the facility.
The mayor of Puget-Théniers has also recognized local concerns surrounding the closure, emphasizing a commitment to restoring operations as soon as conditions allow.
He explained that the timeline for reopening is impacted by the dual challenges posed by the insurance claim and the need to upgrade existing facilities, such as the de-skiller, which had already required attention prior to the fire.
The municipality is taking necessary steps towards fulfilling these requirements, with aspirations for enhancing the abattoir's offerings, including potentially establishing a quality label for Mercantour products.
As the shutdown continues for nearly five months, anxiety and frustration are mounting among farmers, such as Thierry Froehlich, a representative of the Confédération paysanne.
He criticized the lack of communication regarding the progress of repairs and expressed concerns about the potential reopening, tentatively suggested for late June without guarantees.
Farmers are poised for a critical period as Easter approaches, highlighting growing tensions caused by the facility's closure.
The consequences for local adhere to the livestock sector has been significant, encompassing revenue loss, temporary unemployment, and a weakening of local supply chains.
Froehlich has noted that due to the risk of bluetongue disease, he increased his herd size by 20%, potentially raising it to 200-250 animals.
Farmers face logistical challenges as they must transport livestock to abattoirs located in Sisteron, Digne, or Gap—a process made complex by long distances and high transportation costs.
Transporting animals to distant facilities results in low economic viability, as only a few animals can be moved per trip, with a limited time frame of 15 days to sell the meat.
Nicolas Perrichon, a sheep farmer in Tourrettes, emphasized that the lemon attempts to coordinate sheep collection within the eastern Var take about three to three and a half hours, compared to just one hour to Puget-Théniers, escalating carbon emissions concerns.
Some farmers have resorted to selling their animals 'on foot' due to operational challenges imposed by the closure, deepening their economic difficulties.
The need for a structured solution is echoed by Froehlich, who calls for representation within decision-making bodies and for improved tools tailored to the sector's needs—the request reinforced in a letter by Confédération paysanne 06 to local authorities, including Charles Ange Ginésy, president of the Alpes-Maritimes department, and Pierre Corporandy, the mayor of Puget-Théniers.
In light of the situation, the Alpes-Maritimes Department has communicated its commitment to expedite reopening efforts.
The local prefecture has been alerted to the urgency of restoring operations, aligning with strict regulatory requirements.
The syndicate managing the abattoir is collaborating with state services to secure necessary authorizations, working alongside the newly formed Association of Abattoir Users to ensure stakeholder involvement in ongoing deliberations.
The leadership of the Association of Abattoir Users, which comprises members affiliated with the FNSEA, has expressed confidence in local authorities' actions.
Jean-Pierre Cavallo, the association's president and a farmer from Fontan, reports that positive discussions took place during a site visit in late March.
While he acknowledges frustrations with the Confédération paysanne's position, he maintains an optimistic perspective on the process of addressing operational challenges at the facility.
The mayor of Puget-Théniers has also recognized local concerns surrounding the closure, emphasizing a commitment to restoring operations as soon as conditions allow.
He explained that the timeline for reopening is impacted by the dual challenges posed by the insurance claim and the need to upgrade existing facilities, such as the de-skiller, which had already required attention prior to the fire.
The municipality is taking necessary steps towards fulfilling these requirements, with aspirations for enhancing the abattoir's offerings, including potentially establishing a quality label for Mercantour products.
