改善肉食雞福利的法規(guī)旨在通過制定更為嚴格的福利標準，來減少肉食雞過于擁擠的狀況。
新法規(guī)規(guī)定，肉食雞最大養(yǎng)殖密度為33公斤/平方米，如若符合更為嚴格的福利標準，比如安裝能保持氨、二氧化碳溫度和濕度在嚴格的參數(shù)范圍內(nèi)的通風系統(tǒng)，這一數(shù)字可提高至每平方米39公斤。如果在一段時間里能一直符合很高的福利標準，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)和通風要求等適用于肉食雞舍的嚴格標準。比如，照明一定要保證一段時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?shù)膿Q氣。嚴重受傷的雞要予以及時救治，或以人道的方式進行宰殺。迄今為止，尚無法規(guī)來規(guī)定肉食雞必須分配多大的空間，因此，這一規(guī)定將對集中飼養(yǎng)的肉食雞的福利產(chǎn)生重大影響。
由于動物福利更多地依賴于負責飼養(yǎng)的相關人員，指令規(guī)定對所有肉雞養(yǎng)殖戶進行培訓和認證要求。每天對所有雞禽必須檢查兩次以上，密切觀察可能出現(xiàn)的動物健康或福利問題。另外，要在與動物健康和福利事項相關的材料上詳細記錄諸如雞舍溫度、濕度、實施的醫(yī)療處理和死亡率的數(shù)據(jù)。
指令還要求歐委會根據(jù)成員國收集的科學數(shù)據(jù)和實證，將來推出更進一步的措施。另外，為了鼓勵歐盟國家和第三國的肉雞生產(chǎn)商采取盡可能高的福利標準，并讓那些符合高福利標準的生產(chǎn)商從這一具有競爭性的優(yōu)勢中獲益，理事會當天還通過了動物福利標簽的結論。指令邀請歐委會就在雞肉上采用特殊福利標簽這種做法草擬一份報告。歐委會將仔細研究這一問題，并就不同做法進行報告。
指令一旦通過，在《官方公報》發(fā)表20天后隨即生效，且所有成員國須于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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