NVWA raids two Overijssel livestock firms over suspected illegal cattle trade
The Dutch Food and Consumer Authority inspected homes and premises of two Overijssel cattle traders suspected of illegal animal handling and falsified records.
The Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit (NVWA) conducted searches of residences and business sites belonging to two cattle traders in Overijssel after suspecting fraud in cattle trading, illegal animal gathering, and prohibited transport. The NVWA-IOD seized administrative records, phones, and ear-tagging equipment, and intercepted a truck with 21 unregistered cattle. Additional inspections found 32 imported cattle lacking Dutch registration and dozens of animals without proper ear tags across both locations.
Inspectors also discovered a barn with ill cows, some unable to stand, which were illegally moved despite health rules; three were euthanised on site. The traders have not been detained, and a criminal investigation is ongoing.
Why it matters
Unregistered and sick cattle pose food-safety risks and could spread disease if they enter the food chain.
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