Brussels, 19/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, European Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou briefed EU farm ministers on the new draft directive laying down minimum rules for the welfare of broiler chickens (see EUROPE 8959). France, Greece, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have expressed concern at the potential outcome of the new system, which gives each chicken more living space by cutting stocking density from the average 40 kg per square metre at present to 38 kg/square metre or even 30 kg/m2 in farms unable to meet the very strict animal welfare rules.
Kyprianou said the new rules were backed by scientific experts, animal welfare groups and consumers, and pointed out that the new rules foresee all farms with more than 100 broilers chickens having to meet minimum standards (sufficient access to litter (bedding), food and water, suitable ventilation and lighting, inspections by farming staff twice a day, systematic removal of sick and injured chickens and the keeping of registers).
France explained that it fears these measures would push up farming costs and lead to a loss of competitiveness among EU farmers compared with chicken farmers outside the EU. The French delegations arguments were supported by the Greek, Czech and Slovak ministers. France suggested getting the Special Agricultural Committee to carry out an impact study commissioned by the Commission. The draft directive was backed by Germany, Denmark and Sweden, with the Danish and Swedish delegations indicating that they currently apply their own slaughter and maximum stocking density rules.
Other Member States did not express an opinion. Some southern European countries will probably back the Commission's plans since they already limit stocking density to 32-34 kg per square metre because at higher densities, too many chickens die from heat exhaustion in hot weather. The Commission hopes the EU Member States will be able to agree on the issue by the end of the year so the new directive can come into force at the end of next year. The British Presidency programme has scheduled agreement at the 19 December Agriculture and Fisheries Council.
Definition of 'fresh poultry'
Under 'any other business', the Netherlands called for changes to Council Regulation 1906/90 on marketing standards for poultry. The Dutch want to ensure defrosted poultry cannot be labelled as fresh, and called for poultry meat from the EU to carry a label indicating the country of origin (Regulation 1906/90 stipulates that only poultry meat from outside the EU sold as fresh meat must carry a label indicating the country of origin). The Commission said it was aware of the lack of clarity in the legislation (defrosted meat labelled as fresh) and had suggested to poultry farmer representatives that they use an EU-origin label, reiterating that indicating labelling poultry from the EU was not compulsory.