改善肉食雞福利的法規(guī)旨在通過(guò)制定更為嚴(yán)格的福利標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，來(lái)減少肉食雞過(guò)于擁擠的狀況。
新法規(guī)規(guī)定，肉食雞最大養(yǎng)殖密度為33公斤/平方米，如若符合更為嚴(yán)格的福利標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，比如安裝能保持氨、二氧化碳溫度和濕度在嚴(yán)格的參數(shù)范圍內(nèi)的通風(fēng)系統(tǒng)，這一數(shù)字可提高至每平方米39公斤。如果在一段時(shí)間里能一直符合很高的福利標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，養(yǎng)殖密度可每平方米再增加3公斤。這要視低死亡率和良好的管理規(guī)范指南而定。新法規(guī)還制定了其他一系列如燈光、墊草、飼養(yǎng)和通風(fēng)要求等適用于肉食雞舍的嚴(yán)格標(biāo)準(zhǔn)。比如，照明一定要保證一段時(shí)間的黑暗以讓肉雞能夠休息，要經(jīng)常為肉雞提供新鮮的墊草和適當(dāng)?shù)膿Q氣。嚴(yán)重受傷的雞要予以及時(shí)救治，或以人道的方式進(jìn)行宰殺。迄今為止，尚無(wú)法規(guī)來(lái)規(guī)定肉食雞必須分配多大的空間，因此，這一規(guī)定將對(duì)集中飼養(yǎng)的肉食雞的福利產(chǎn)生重大影響。
由于動(dòng)物福利更多地依賴于負(fù)責(zé)飼養(yǎng)的相關(guān)人員，指令規(guī)定對(duì)所有肉雞養(yǎng)殖戶進(jìn)行培訓(xùn)和認(rèn)證要求。每天對(duì)所有雞禽必須檢查兩次以上，密切觀察可能出現(xiàn)的動(dòng)物健康或福利問(wèn)題。另外，要在與動(dòng)物健康和福利事項(xiàng)相關(guān)的材料上詳細(xì)記錄諸如雞舍溫度、濕度、實(shí)施的醫(yī)療處理和死亡率的數(shù)據(jù)。
指令還要求歐委會(huì)根據(jù)成員國(guó)收集的科學(xué)數(shù)據(jù)和實(shí)證，將來(lái)推出更進(jìn)一步的措施。另外，為了鼓勵(lì)歐盟國(guó)家和第三國(guó)的肉雞生產(chǎn)商采取盡可能高的福利標(biāo)準(zhǔn)，并讓那些符合高福利標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的生產(chǎn)商從這一具有競(jìng)爭(zhēng)性的優(yōu)勢(shì)中獲益，理事會(huì)當(dāng)天還通過(guò)了動(dòng)物福利標(biāo)簽的結(jié)論。指令邀請(qǐng)歐委會(huì)就在雞肉上采用特殊福利標(biāo)簽這種做法草擬一份報(bào)告。歐委會(huì)將仔細(xì)研究這一問(wèn)題，并就不同做法進(jìn)行報(bào)告。
指令一旦通過(guò)，在《官方公報(bào)》發(fā)表20天后隨即生效，且所有成員國(guó)須于2010年6月前執(zhí)行。
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Commissioner Kyprianou welcomes Council agreement on animal welfare rules for broilers
IP/07/630 Brussels, 7 May 2007
Commissioner Kyprianou welcomes Council agreement on animal welfare rules for broilers
Markos Kyprianou, European Commissioner for Health, has welcomed the Council's political agreement today on new rules to improve the welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers). The Directive aims to reduce the overcrowding of chickens, by setting a maximum stocking density of 33kg/m2, or 39kg/m2 if stricter welfare standards are met. The new legislation also lays down a number of other conditions to ensure better animal welfare, such as lighting, litter, feeding, and ventilation requirements. The Directive also provides for the Commission to possibly introduce further measures in the future, based on the scientific data and practical evidence collected by the Member States. The Council also adopted today conclusions on animal welfare labelling and the Commission will now carefully study this issue and report on the various options.
Commissioner Kyprianou said: "EU consumers have repeatedly expressed concern at the welfare problems that can arise through intensive chicken farming. The Directive agreed today brings forward for the first time important rules for the animal welfare of broilers. While today's political agreement modifies our original proposal in certain respects, it is still a great step forward to improve the conditions under which broilers are kept. Not only will this result in better animal welfare across Europe, but it should also contribute to improving the health of the birds and the quality of their meat. With the goal of obtaining the highest possible welfare levels for broilers, the Commission has committed to continuing its work on this issue and will report back on any further provisions that could improve the welfare of these birds across Europe."
More space per chicken
Under the proposal agreed by Council today, a maximum stocking density of 33kg live animals per square meter should be set. This can rise to 39kg/m2 if extra welfare measures are taken, for example the installation of ventilation systems that keep the ammonia, CO2 temperature and humidity levels within strict parameters. It was also agreed today that if exceptionally high welfare standards are met over a continual period, the stocking density could be increased by 3 kg/m2. This is conditional on the application of lower mortality rates and guides to good management practice. Up to now, there have been no rules on the space that must be allocated to broilers, so this provision will have a significant impact on the wellbeing of intensively reared chickens.
Better conditions
The Directive also details new strict standards that must be applied in the housing of the broilers. For example, lighting must include minimum periods of darkness to allow the chickens to rest, fresh litter must be permanently available and proper ventilation must be in place. Any chickens that are seriously injured must be immediately treated or culled in a humane manner.
Stricter requirements for operators
As the welfare of animals relies largely on the people who are handling them, the Directive sets out training and certification requirements for all intensively reared chicken keepers. All chickens must be inspected at least twice a day, paying close attention for any animal health or welfare problems that may arise. Moreover, detailed records must be kept on matters that are relevant for the health and the welfare of the animals, such as the temperature and humidity in the holdings, medical treatments administered and mortality rates.
Continuing the work
The Directive gives the Commission a mandate to look into further welfare provisions for broiler chickens in the future. Welfare data from slaughterhouses in Member States will be collected EU wide. On the basis of this data, the Commission will determine whether additional measures would be beneficial. Moreover, in order to provide an incentive to both EU and third country producers to strive for the highest possible welfare levels and to allow operators who meet high standards to benefit from the competitive advantage this offers, the Directive invites the Commission to prepare a report on the possible introduction of specific welfare labelling for chicken meat. The Commission will consider integrating this task into a broader project, agreed within the Council conclusions on animal welfare labelling today.
Next steps
Once adopted, the Directive will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal, and must be implemented by all Member States by June 2010 at the latest.
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