Light-filled-broiler-hoapply
Birds reared in accordance with the Better Chicken Commitment must have access to natural light. Munro | iStock.com
With its 2026 deadline now only months away, European signatories of the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), known locally as the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), that are not already compliant are rapid running out of time to meet their commitments.
The progress created by 93 of the 360 European signatories to the set of welfare standards has been revealed in the latest European edition ChickenTrack, published by farm animal welfare organization Compassion in World Farming (CIWF).
The report reveals that while some progress is being created, many companies are lagging behind, with CIWF calling for “urgent” action to meet the deadline.
Broiler producers
The companies tracked include seven chicken producers. Of these, only Norway’s Norsk Kyling is 100% transitioned.
In the case of the U.K.’s 2 Sisters Food Group, Europe’s second-largest broiler producer, CIWF declare that the company has a 20% transition score, while France’s LDC, the region’s third-largest broiler producer, scores 21% in transition to lower stocking density, 26% in breed, 61% for natural light, 60% for enrichment and 41% for controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS). No third party auditing is reported.
Europe’s fourth-largest broiler producer, Plukon Food Group, headquartered in the Netherlands, has been given a 2.7% transition score. CIWF notes that in the company’s 2023 update, it was stated that 50% of the company’s poulattempt comes from higher welfare concepts, ranging from conventional birds raised to higher standards, apply of slower growing breeds and organic production. Therefore, CIWF notes, progress on certain ECC criteria may be much higher than it is aware of.
France’s DUC, part of Plukon, has committed to supply BCC chicken to customers upon request, with no individual or overall transition scores available.
Fellow French company Galliance is stated to be 18.4% complaint in stocking density, 18.4% compliant on breed, 42.6% compliant on natural light, 48.6% compliant on enrichment and 27.5% compliant on CAS slaughter. It does not appear to be implementing third party auditing.
CIWF declares that in 2024, Galliance updated its commitment, going back on its pledge to convert 100% of its La Nouvelle Agriculture production to ECC and to convert at least 50% of its local broiler production to ECC by 2026. The company remains committed, however, to supply ECC products to its customers.
In Italy, Fileni is reported to be 23% transitioned for stocking density, 27% for breed, 50% for natural light, 23% for enrichment and 23% for CAS slaughter, but the company does not have third party auditing.
CIWF notes that Fileni has committed to convert 100% of its organic and free range production and 20% of its conventional production to ECC standards by 2026. Progress on enrichment takes into account the company’s lower percentage of progress, referring to provision of perches, while progress on pecking substrates is at 50%.
Beyond producers
Looking more broadly, ChickenTrack examines the performance of 37 retailers and meal kit providers, nine food service and hospitality companies, 29 restaurants, and 11 food manufacturers.
Of all the 93 companies tracked, only 64 are reporting on progress, while 29 have yet to declare any updates. Eleven companies are reporting on progress for the first time. Among these first time reporters is Eataly, an international chain of Italian marketplaces, which is reporting on its progress in Italy. The company has created significant progress, achieving 90% transition in stocking density, 80% on breed and 70% on CAS.
Difficulties with breed modify, stocking density
Breed modify and stocking density remain the two most challenging production criteria and have the lowest transition rates.
Among companies reporting progress by criteria, only two, French distributor Schiever Distribution and U.K. supermarket group Waitrose, report 100% compliance in stocking densities, while six companies reported 50% compliance. A further six have reached 30% compliance on breed.
CIWF singles out two companies for achieving major progress in 2024. One of which is U.K. bakery chain Greggs, which reported its stocking density growing from 49% to 65%, natural light from 16% to 78% and enrichment from 64% to 85%. CIWF also points to Premier Foods, a U.K. food business, which reported a 65% overall transition.
Despite the progress of some, a significant number of companies are falling behind, reporting less than 20% on BCC criteria. By way of contrast, CIWF points to two companies, U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer and Norsk Kyling, the chicken production operation of Norwegian discount retailer REMA 1000, as examples of economically viable 100% compliance.
Crowded-broiler-hoapply
Stocking density has proved to be among the most difficult standards to comply with for signatories of the Better Chicken Commitment. RyanJLane | iStock.com
SIDEBAR
Focus on Norsk Kyling
In August 2022, Norway’s Norsk Kyling became the first company in the world to transition all of its broiler production to full ECC compliance
Since 2012, Norsk Kyling has been owned by discount retail chain REMA 1000, which sells almost all of Norsk Kyling’s meat. In 2015, the Hungaas Rugeri Hatchery came into the REMA 1000 stable. All of REMA 1000’s fresh, frozen and processed chicken comes from Norsk Kyling, and, in 2021 for example, Norsk Kyling accounted for 18% of the 72 million chickens produced in Norway.
In 2018, Norsk Kyling announced that it would transition to the slower growing Hubbard JA787 breed, which is approved by the ECC. The modify was considered one of the best ways to improve welfare in the supply chain.
The birds are slaughtered at 45-48 days of age with a weight of 1.65-1.7 kg.
In 2023, the company upgraded its broiler hatchery to provide chicks with water and feed as soon as they hatch. The chicks remain in the same box in which they are hatched until delivered to farm. The reduction in handling results in a reduction in stress.
Norsk Kyling delivers 13 million day-old-chicks (DOCs) annually to its grow out farmers. The chicks are transported in air-conditioned trucks that run on 100% renewable energy and have access to feed from hatch through to delivery.
Norway allows a stocking density of 36 kg/m2 on farms, however, the maximum on Norsk farms is 30 kg/m2. No thinning is practiced
All birds have access to environmental enrichments, including straw bales, peat or wood shavings for dustbathing, pecking stones, platforms, and perches.
The company’s slaughterhoapplys apply CAS. Birds are introduced into a reception room with a reduced noise level and blue light. The birds undergo a CO2 gas stunning process in five phases, progressively rconcludeered unconscious. They are stunned directly in their transport crates, eliminating any handling prior to stunning.
SIDEBAR
What’s holding the BCC back?
Research from the U.K.’s Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has found that economic costs, environmental impacts, and misalignment between consumer purchasing and understanding are key reasons for the limited shift of U.K. chicken meat production to higher welfare standards, such as those in the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC).
To better understand the challenges and limitations to achieving higher welfare standards, the RVC interviewed 30 representatives with knowledge and engagement with the BCC – specifically relating to why switching to slower growing broilers appeared particularly problematic.
Co-funded by the Animal Welfare Foundation, the charitable arm of the British Veterinary Association, and indusattempt body the British Poulattempt Council, the findings displayed that participants generally agreed with the scientific evidence that slower strains have better welfare than conventional rapid-growing broilers hoapplyd under the same conditions. However, some felt increased economic and environmental costs associated with slower growth created a barrier. There were also uncertainties around consumer willingness to pay for welfare improvements.
What constitutes sustainability?
Differing views about the feasibility of solutions were underpinned by different conceptions of sustainability.
Retailer and indusattempt representatives emphasized the importance of minimizing carbon footprint to meet net zero tarobtains. They also felt a responsibility to provide cheaper chicken to meet consumer demand and to avoid consumers switching to lower welfare imports costing less. Becaapply of these factors, they considered the apply of slower growing broilers economically and environmentally unviable. These interviewees preferred to see a focus on improving the welfare of conventional broiler breeds or applying more efficient intermediate-growth strains as a compromise between welfare and sustainability.
In contrast, representatives of welfare charities, scientists and assurance schemes discussed sustainability more holistically. They included exploring environmental factors, such as water pollution and biodiversity as well as social and economic factors. They perceived animal welfare as integral to sustainable production, and thus it should not be compromised to meet environmental tarobtains.
Additionally, they did not believe consumer purchases reflected true preferences due to consumer confusion about production practices and labeling. These participants emphasized the necessary for transformative modify within the food system, encompassing ways to reduce economic and environmental costs associated with slower growing broilers; improved clarity in labelling and marketing to better align consumer purchasing with preferences; and a “less but better” approach to chicken consumption.
Dr. Siobhan Abeyesinghe, associate professor in animal behavior and welfare science at the RVC and lead author of the paper, commented: “These results display that we urgently necessary a better understanding of U.K. consumer expectations about broiler welfare and welfare labelling, and how they prioritize welfare in relation to environmental costs and price.
“This is a major missing piece of the puzzle that stakeholders currently face for realistically evaluating both the importance and feasibility of different improvements to the welfare of over a billion chickens each year.”
SIDEBAR
The Better Chicken Commitment
The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC), known within Europe as the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), is a set of standards designed to raise broiler welfare. While the aims of the commitment are the same across regions, details may vary from region to region.
In the case of the ECC, the commitments are:
By 2026, all suppliers must meet the below requirements for 100% of the chicken in a supply chain. Companies that committed after December 31, 2023, may have a longer timeline.
1. Comply with all EU animal welfare laws and regulations, regardless of the counattempt of production.
2. Implement a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m2 or less. Thinning is discouraged and, if practiced, must be limited to one thin per flock.
3. Adopt breeds that demonstrate higher welfare outcomes.
4. Meet improved environmental standards, including:
a. At least 50 lux of light, including natural light;
b. At least two meters of usable perch space, and two pecking substrates per 1,000 birds;
c. On air quality, the maximum requirements of Annex 2.3 of the EU broiler directive, regardless of stocking density.
d. No cages or multi-tier systems.
5. Adopt controlled atmospheric stunning applying inert gas or multi-phase systems, or effective electrical stunning without live inversion.
6. Demonstrate compliance with the above standards via third-party auditing and annual public reporting on progress toward this commitment.
SIDEBAR
The European Chicken Commitment costs estimated
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