Poultry production : welfare and European legislation

Abstract

In Europe, two organisations control legislation concerning domestic animal welfare : these are the Council of Europe and the European Union. A general convention covering all domestic species (1976) and a comparable directive (98/58/CE, 1998) have been adopted‚ by the standing committee of the European Convention (Council of Europe) and the European Union, respectively. Both of these texts apply to all domestic species and therefore to domestic birds. Furthermore, in 1999‚ the European Union adopted a second version of a specific directive concerning the laying hen (Gallus gallus). Scientific reports concerning laying hens (1992, 1996)‚ «foie gras» production (1998) and broiler breeders (2000) have also been commissioned at the request of the scientific veterinary committee (presently European Food Safety Authority [E.F.S.A.]) of the E.U. and a directive concerning the broiler production is under preparation. In the meantime, the standing committee of the European Council has adopted six specific recommendations devoted to laying hens (1986), ratites (1997), waterfowl (3 recommendations in 1999) and turkeys (2001). In accordance with the convention of 1976, all these recommendations should be reviewed within 5 years after their adoption and be amended if appropriate. Furthermore, according to directive 98/58/CE (European Union, 1998), each adopted recommendation should be incorporated in the law of member states and applied. In any case, these texts can only be more restrictive.