Brussels, 30/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - At their meeting in Brussels on 7-8 May, the German presidency and the European Commission hope to bring European agriculture ministers to political agreement on minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (broilers). This matter has been deadlocked for over two years. The deep differences between, member states, particularly with regard to the maximum stocking densities beyond which the breeder will no longer be allowed to market his/her products, give little cause for optimism.
It would appear that the German presidency's draft text relates to batteries of over 500 heads and does not apply to chickens raised in the open or to free range chickens. The general rule will require operators to limit the maximum broiler density to 32 kg per square metre (kg/m²). Member states will be able to grant exemptions which could amount to 38 kg/m² for farms which meet the most severe standards (humidity levels and temperatures not to be exceeded, for example). In addition, the compromise provides for a “bonus” of 2 kg/m², on condition that breeders take steps to reduce chicken mortality, adopt good practices and can prove one year's production with no abnormalities in the stock.
To limit the financial consequences of the new legislation on the industry, the German presidency is getting rid of the requirement, contained in the previous compromise under Finnish presidency (in the last half of 2006), to count the lesions on the animals' feet, as Swedish and Danish producers do. Similarly, the compromise relaxes restrictions regarding monitoring of farms and sanctions against offenders. The German presidency was very keen on putting in place a European “animal welfare” labelling system for chicken meat, but in the face of opposition from several producer countries, it agreed to postpone its labelling plans for the moment. The Commission has been called on to draw up a report on the advantages of such an “EU animal welfare standards” labelling system.
Any political agreement will be difficult to achieve because the proposed directive continues to pose problems for several countries, in particular the new member states (including Hungary and Slovakia), which consider it to be still too restrictive. Other countries which are sensitive to animal welfare, such as Sweden and Denmark, fear that NGOs will challenge a text that is not tight enough. At the moment, only Austria and Ireland have clearly indicated that they could accept the amended text. (lc)