The Affiliation of Poultry Processors and Poultry Commerce within the EU International locations (AVEC) has printed at this time a brand new research analysing in depth the extra prices and certain 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 resembling using slower-growing hen breeds, a decrease stocking density, using enrichment instruments and so on, to 100% of their (recent, frozen and processed) poultry provide chain by 2026.
As ECC compliance progresses, essential questions relating to its environmental implications and its results on hen meat manufacturing stay unanswered. To make clear these points, AVEC has commissioned a complete influence research analyzing the potential penalties of totally transitioning from present EU hen meat manufacturing to ECC requirements, carried out independently by RSK ADAS Ltd (ADAS) – a consultancy agency specialising in agriculture.
“The distinctive side of this research lies within the emphasis positioned on calculating prices per kilogram of meat, in contrast to earlier analysis centered solely on the implications for stay birds or liveweight, which doesn’t precisely replicate market realities since we promote meat, not stay animals”, states Birthe Steenberg, AVEC’s Secretary Common. Jason Gittins, Technical Director for livestock at ADAS, explains additional: “On account of variations in meat yields between customary and ECC manufacturing, earlier research typically underestimated the true influence of switching to ECC requirements”.
The ”Prices and Implications of the European Hen Dedication within the EU” research finds that totally transitioning to ECC requirements would lead to:
- An extra manufacturing price 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 current EU rising area (>30kg/m²),
- and the need to assemble 9,692 new poultry homes, with an estimated price of €8.24 billion, to keep up present manufacturing ranges.
These results on manufacturing would inevitably result in greater costs that might exclude a big a part of shoppers from shopping for hen meat or drastically enhance imports from third nations with decrease animal welfare requirements. AVEC’s President, Gert-Jan Oplaat, emphasises the significance of shopper alternative 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. Understanding that EU poultry consumption is predicted to develop within the EU within the subsequent 10 years, shoppers ought to have the selection to pick out greater welfare merchandise if they want, but it surely’s essential that customary, inexpensive 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 shoppers 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 real looking and achievable targets for producers.
“Sustainability necessitates a fragile stability between its three pillars, and whereas enhancing animal welfare is paramount, additionally it is essential 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 below the very best requirements on this planet. We encourage shoppers and policymakers to contemplate the research’s findings to make knowledgeable selections about hen manufacturing requirements.
To seek out out extra and obtain the total research, please click on right here.
