Wednesday 1st June 2005
PRESS RELEASE FROM COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING -
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PUBLISHES PROPOSED NEW EU COUNCIL DIRECTIVE ON THE WELFARE
OF CHICKENS REARED FOR MEAT
Animal welfare group says proposals are disappointing and will not
resolve welfare problems
Compassion in World Farming
(CIWF),
However, CIWF is very critical
of some of the key conditions laid down in the proposed Directive:
1. The proposed
Directive does not address the serious welfare problems caused by the use of
fast-growing breeds of chickens. The cause of so many broiler welfare problems
is the use of fast-growing breeds. The
European Commission’s proposed Directive recognises this problem in the
introduction, which says: “The report of the (European Commission’s)
Scientific Committee concludes that most welfare problems encountered in
chickens are directly linked to the selection for higher growth rates and
better food conversion.” However, the
proposed Directive fails to address this important problem, instead merely
recommending that this issue is reviewed at some point within 5 years of this
Directive coming into force.
2. The proposed
Directive allows overcrowding of birds to continue. The proposed
Directive suggests a maximum stocking density of 30 kg/m2, with the option of
this rising to 38 kg/m2 if certain environmental conditions are met. A stocking density of 38 kg/m2 is the
equivalent of up to 19 birds per square metre, which is severely
overcrowded. The European Commission’s Scientific
Committee recommended in their 2000 report a maximum stocking density of 25
kg/m2, saying that “above 30 kg/m2, even
with very good environmental control systems, there is a steep rise in the
frequency of serious welfare problems.”
Mary-Anne Bartlett, Director of CIWF-Ireland, says:
“The European Commission’s
proposed Directive is very disappointing.
Firstly, it fails to address the serious welfare problems caused by the
use of fast-growing breeds of chickens.
Today’s chickens reach slaughter weight at just 6 to 7 weeks old. Many have real difficulty in supporting their
enlarged bodies, often suffering from considerable pain and lameness. This problem will not be resolved by the
measures in the proposed new Directive. Secondly,
the proposed Directive would permit severe overcrowding of chickens to
continue. CIWF believes that chickens
should have adequate room to move around freely and preferably also have access
to outdoors. We will be urging the EU to
review these issues before a new Directive is finalised.”
Background:
Each year, about 69 million
broiler chickens are reared and killed for their meat in the