• The association L-214 unveils an investigation into the conditions of "extreme" breeding of more than 6,200 rabbits in an intensive farm in Noordpeene, in the North.
  • The Auchan brand acknowledges being supplied by this breeding and announced, Tuesday, no longer working with this company.
  • L-214 announces that it is filing a complaint with the Dunkirk Judicial Court against the intensive breeding of rabbits for ill-treatment.

"They never have access to the outside, they never see the light of day," L-214 said in a press release. On Wednesday, the animal rights group unveiled an investigation into the "extreme" living conditions of more than 6,200 rabbits at an intensive farm in Noordpeene, in the north.

Videos and photos show newborns, dead or dying, as well as a kitten with a necrotic leg, wedged between the bars of the cage. Contacted by 20 Minutes to react to these shocking images, the breeder did not respond. According to L-214, rabbits, raised and locked night and day in cages, are then taken to the slaughterhouse of Vaudringhem, in the Pas-de-Calais. Subsequently, the animals are marketed by the company Lapins d'Artois, in Lillers, which produces the brand Lapin du Ch'ti, sold in Auchan supermarkets.

A complaint filed against the farm

In reaction to this investigation, Auchan acknowledged working with northern breeding. "In view of the situation presented to us by the association L-214, we have decided to disengage from this breeding today, and to open an internal investigation," the northern group responded in a statement. L-214 has also launched a petition to have Auchan remove all intensive farms from its list of suppliers. The text has already collected more than 30,000 signatures.

In addition, L-214 announced that it filed a complaint for ill-treatment with the Dunkirk Judicial Court against the Noordpeene farm. The association also takes the opportunity to challenge the European Commission about the "massive use of antibiotics" since its survey reveals that livestock uses eight antibiotics classified as "critically important" by the World Health Organization (WHO).

  • Animal abuse
  • Nord-Pas-de-Calais
  • Hauts-de-France
  • Dunkirk
  • North
  • Breeding
  • Rabbit
  • Association
  • L214