The Affiliation of Poultry Processors and Poultry Commerce within the EU Nations (AVEC) has revealed at present a brand new examine analysing in depth the extra prices and sure implications of adopting the European Hen Dedication (ECC) within the EU.
Quite a few firms throughout Europe, spanning from retailers to eating places and catering companies, have already signed as much as the ECC, a framework of requirements promoted by animal welfare NGOs, which goals to boost animal welfare and exceeds present EU laws. The ECC commits its signatories to use a number of necessities akin to using slower-growing hen breeds, a decrease stocking density, using enrichment instruments and so forth, to 100% of their (recent, frozen and processed) poultry provide chain by 2026.
As ECC compliance progresses, essential questions concerning its environmental implications and its results on hen meat manufacturing stay unanswered. To make clear these points, AVEC has commissioned a complete influence examine inspecting the potential penalties of absolutely transitioning from present EU hen meat manufacturing to ECC requirements, performed independently by RSK ADAS Ltd (ADAS) – a consultancy agency specialising in agriculture.
“The distinctive side of this examine lies within the emphasis positioned on calculating prices per kilogram of meat, not like earlier analysis targeted solely on the implications for dwell birds or liveweight, which doesn’t precisely replicate market realities since we promote meat, not dwell animals”, states Birthe Steenberg, AVEC’s Secretary Basic. Jason Gittins, Technical Director for livestock at ADAS, explains additional: “As a consequence of variations in meat yields between customary and ECC manufacturing, earlier research usually underestimated the true influence of switching to ECC requirements”.
The ”Prices and Implications of the European Hen Dedication within the EU” examine finds that absolutely transitioning to ECC requirements would end in:
- An extra manufacturing value of 37.5% per kilogram of meat,
- a 35.4% enhance in water consumption, equating to an extra 12.44 million cubic meters yearly,
- a 35.5% enhance in feed consumption, amounting to an extra 7.3 million tonnes,
- a 24.4% rise in greenhouse fuel emissions per kilogram of meat produced,
- a discount of 44% within the whole meat produced in comparison with customary manufacturing strategies at current in present EU rising house (>30kg/m²),
- and the need to assemble 9,692 new poultry homes, with an estimated value of €8.24 billion, to keep up present manufacturing ranges.
These results on manufacturing would inevitably result in larger costs that might exclude a big a part of customers from shopping for hen meat or drastically enhance imports from third international locations with decrease animal welfare requirements. AVEC’s President, Gert-Jan Oplaat, emphasises the significance of client selection and knowledgeable decision-making: “Whereas the ECC goals to enhance animal welfare, it’s essential to recognise that these enhancements include important financial and environmental implications. Figuring out that EU poultry consumption is predicted to develop within the EU within the subsequent 10 years, customers ought to have the selection to pick out larger welfare merchandise if they want, however it’s essential that customary, reasonably priced choices stay accessible”.
AVEC reaffirms the EU poultry sector’s dedication to steady enchancment of animal welfare in stability with financial and environmental sustainability and highlights the necessity for different strategies to boost animal welfare with out imposing undue monetary burdens on customers or exacerbating environmental issues. The affiliation advocates for the event of output-based animal welfare indicators, grounded in scientific and goal standards to evaluate welfare efficiency, efficient farm administration, complete farmer coaching and a framework that incentivises and encourages progress by way of life like and achievable aims for producers.
“Sustainability necessitates a fragile stability between its three pillars, and whereas enhancing animal welfare is paramount, additionally it is vital to take the financial and environmental influence into consideration,” concludes Birthe Steenberg. The EU poultry sector stays dedicated to delivering high-quality, accessible hen meat produced underneath the best requirements on the planet. We encourage customers and policymakers to think about the examine’s findings to make knowledgeable selections about hen manufacturing requirements.
To search out out extra and obtain the total examine, please click on right here.
