Brussels, 29/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 28 June, the EU Council of Ministers adopted, without debate, a directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, following the political agreement reached by European ministers on 7 May (see EUROPE 9422). Only Austria, believing the new legislation did not go far enough on animal protection, voted against the text. The Netherlands somewhat unwillingly accepted the compromise, saying that a directive based on stocking density could offer few guarantees for the highest levels of animal welfare protection. The Netherlands would have preferred legislation which sought to further reduce mortality and food pad lesions.
The new directive is to be transposed into national legislations by 30 June 2010. It sets a maximum stocking density of 33kg/m2 for holdings rearing more than 500 birds, but allows a stocking density of 39kg/m2 if farmers comply with stricter rules (ventilation, cooling and heating systems). In addition, an exemption allows producers to go to 42kg/m23: a bonus of 3kg/m2 may be allowed if farmers reduce chicken mortality to less than 3% (on seven consecutive production lines).
The European Commission will publish a report by 31 December 2009 on the feasibility of a compulsory harmonised labelling system for chicken meat and chicken products. (lc)