MEPs called on the European Commission on Thursday 4 October in Strasbourg to ensure the proper implementation of EU provisions on the welfare of broilers and expressed their outrage at the conditions under which they are kept.
Pavel Poc (S&D, Czech), author of the oral question put in plenary session, denounced the deplorable conditions of broiler chicken farming, drawing attention to the massive use of antibiotics and ammonia pollution.
On behalf of the European Commissioner for Health, Vytenis Andriukaitis, Elżbieta Bieńkowska recalled that reports had shown that the welfare of chickens had improved on farms thanks to Directive (2007/43/EC) which lays down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production.
The Commission acknowledged that much remained to be done, however. New indicators are being developed for broilers and "we need to invest in animal health", her representative advised. Ms Bieńkowska indicated, with regard to labelling, that the Commission was examining the study showing that labelling of chicken meat did not provide any added value.
The European Union is a major producer of broiler chicken. This sector employs more than 250,000 people in Europe and there are 23,000 large farms.
José Inácio Faria (EPP, Portuguese) advised the establishment of good hygiene practices for these animals and expressed concern about the massive preventive use of antibiotics.
Maria Noichl (S&D, German) stressed the need for labelling and transparency on slaughter, transport and breeds (some have disappeared).
"We want to make a difference and it is true that the effects of industrial livestock farming should be reduced,” the Commissioner concluded.
A resolution on the welfare of broilers will be put to the vote in the European Parliament at the plenary session from 22 to 25 October. (original version in French by Lionel Changeur)