Procedure completed
Role | Committee | Rapporteur | Shadows |
---|---|---|---|
Lead | AGRI | BERMAN Thijs (PSE) | |
Opinion | ENVI | JØRGENSEN Dan (PSE) |
Legal Basis EC Treaty (after Amsterdam) EC 037
Activites
- 2007/07/12 Final act published in Official Journal
- #2812
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2007/06/28
Council Meeting
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2007/06/28
End of procedure in Parliament
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2007/06/28
Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
- #2797
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2007/05/07
Council Meeting
- #2739
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2006/06/19
Council Meeting
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2739
summary
The Council took note of the report presented by the Presidency on a draft Directive (see 9606/05+ADD1) laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (broilers) and of the comments made at that stage by several delegations mainly concerning the implementing period, the issue of collecting data before the establishment of an upper compulsory limit, the need for a report on the socio-economic impact on the sector of the measures envisaged, and the issue of sanctions. The Council noted that the suggested work plan had the support of a majority of the delegations and gave the Committee of Permanent Representatives a mandate to continue work on that basis, at the appropriate level, with a view to reaching a conclusion during the Finnish Presidency.The main suggestions drawn up by the Presidency broadly consist of extending the scope of the proposal to cover organic and free-range chickens and envisaging the possible setting up of an upper compulsory limit -to be defined- for stocking density to be presented by the Commission, after a period during which data would be collected at national level on harmonised standards of welfare (mortality rate, stocking density, footpad lesions, etc.). That upper limit would apply with enhanced welfare requirements. The initial minimum threshold of 30 kg live per square metre for stocking density remains.
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2739
summary
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2006/02/14
Results of vote in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament
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T6-0053/2006
summary
The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Thijs BERMAN (PES, NL) and made some amendments to the proposal. The principal amendments are as follows:- in assessing compliance with requirements set out in Annex I by both low-density and high-density establishments, account shall be taken of the various stages of production, on the one hand, and the various climatic conditions and the methods of keeping chickens, on the other;- Parliament approved the general rule established by the Commission to limit stocking densities to 30 kg/m2 per unit, and added that the maximum stocking density shall be measured as an average of the last three flocks. A margin of two days shall be permitted in the event of an emergency. However, the stocking density for any single flock shall not exceed 32 kilogrammes per liveweight;- whilst agreeing with the derogation of stocking density not exceeding 38 kilogrammes liveweight Parliament added that the maximum stocking density shall be measured as an average of the last three flocks. A margin of two days shall be permitted in the event of an emergency. However, the stocking density for any single flock shall not exceed 40 kilogrammes per liveweight;- from 1 January 2013, the stocking density may not exceed 34 kilogrammes liveweight. This maximum stocking density shall be measured as an average of the last three flocks. A margin of two days shall be permitted in the event of an emergency. However, the stocking density for any single flock shall not exceed 36 kilogrammes per liveweight;- a new sentence states that monitoring shall be extended to all establishments falling within the scope of this Directive. The welfare of chickens shall be monitored even in establishments where lower stocking densities are maintained, because animal welfare is not guaranteed by stocking density alonebut is affected by other factors;- the Commission should report within 6 months, rather than 2 years as proposed, on the possible introduction of a harmonised EU system of labelling chicken meat for consumers, including clear information concerning production standards and the origin of the product . Labels shall, in particular, indicate the chicken stocking density at the holding concerned. Labels shall also specify the animal's age and other parameters which consumers wish to be taken into account;- a new article states that the Commission shall carry out activities to persuade EU chicken-meat importers to demand the same level of animal welfare standards from their suppliers;- no later than four years from the date of the adoption of the Directive, the Commission should submit a report on all aspects of health resulting in poor welfare of chicken in broiler and breeding keepings, concerning the loss of genetic diversity in chicken breeding and including a cost-benefit analysis of the use of various breeding strains with regard to animal health, resistance to diseases, necessary use of biocides and veterinary medical products. That report shall be submitted not later than 30 months after the adoption of the directive and shall be accompanied by appropriate legislative proposals, if necessary. Such proposals shall be in keeping with the principle that genetic selection must not restrict, diminish or threaten animal welfare potential. The adverse effects of earlier genetic selection must also be eliminated;- the report and legislative proposals shall consider both the genetics of broilers and the welfare conditions under which parent stock is raised, and shall consider options such as farming birds of recognised slow-growing strains, restrictions on weight gain of birds per day, a minimum age for slaughter and the prohibition of the use of broilers from parent stock that have to be restrictively fed;- two years after the date of adoption of the Directive, the Commission shall conduct an assessment of the impact of its provisions on the welfare of chickens kept for meat production and of its economic impact in each Member State;-five years after the date of adoption of the Directive, the Commission shall submit an assessment report covering the optimisation of the choice of the welfare parameters for chickens kept for meat production and appropriate welfare measurement techniques, with particular reference to parameters concerning behavioural, metabolic, and skeletal disorders. The implementing method and the cost of welfare measurement techniques shall be covered by this assessment, in the interests of farmers and consumers;- no more than six months after the publication of the Commission's assessment, it shall, where appropriate, be followed by proposals for amendments to the annexes of the Directive;- with regard to penalties, a new sentence is added stating that except in clear cases of abandonment or maltreatment, which require immediate action, the penalties shall be progressive;- various amendments are made to the Annexes, for example, regarding ventilation ,heating and cooling systems, and light. Some of the additional welfare criteria should be extended to all holdings, regardless of whether they are operating under the derogation. Thus, all establishments should have to conform to certain rules: non-flickering light of at least 50 lux intensity on a 24-hour rhythm, relative humidity of maximum 70% (when the outside temperature is below 10 degrees), temperature of maximum 3 degrees more than the outside temperature (when this exceeds 30 degrees) and sufficient ventilation. The concentration of NH3 should not exceed 20 ppm and the concentration of CO2 should not exceed 3000 ppm measured at the level of the chickens' heads;- beak-trimming and the castration of male chickens should not be allowed under any circumstances;- Parliament amended the provisions in the Annex requiring that the stocking density be reduced where deficiencies are detected. It proposed that incidences of deficiencies in a flock should be classified into three groups, depending on the scale of the deficiencies, and that the penalty reduction in stocking density should be one kg/m2. Severe deficiencies would lead to repeated reductions;- the competent authority shall carry out an inspection at least once a year. The cost of these inspections should be borne by the competent authority itself;- a new recital states that the Commission should vigorously defend the importance of animal welfare during negotiations within the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with a view to securing a world-wide consensus on the matter. A high standard of animal welfare is essential for sustainable farming, and respect for animal welfare should be an established criterion in negotiations on non-trade concerns (NTCs).
- 2006/02/13 Debate in Parliament
- 2006/02/01 Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
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2006/01/26
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
- #2676
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2005/07/18
Council Meeting
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2676
summary
The Council took note of a presentation by Commissioner Kyprianou of a proposal for a Council Directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production ("broilers").The Council also took note of the Commission's intended strategy in the area of Mr Kyprianou's responsibilities as well as the intention of the Presidency to make progress on this file in order to come back on these strategic issues before the end of the year.The German, Swedish and Danish delegations expressed their broad support for the proposal tabled by the Commission, warning against the risk of excessive stocking density of broilers. The Danish and Swedish delegations also indicated that they currently applied national rules as regards requirements for slaughter and maximum stocking densities.The Slovak, Czech and French delegations expressed their concerns as regards the possible loss of competitiveness of the EU poultry industry on the world market and the possible loss of market shares in the EU, the need to take due account of the economic aspects and the geographical positions of the Member States, as well as the schedule of implementation of the proposed Directive. The French delegation suggested submitting the impact assessment study of the Commission on the proposal to the examination of the Special Committee on Agriculture.The Greek delegation underlined the need for sufficient protection for broilers as well as a secure framework in this area and stressed the importance of a cost/benefit balance.Commissioner Kyprianou underlined his awareness as regards the importance of competitiveness for the EU broiler's industry with regard to third countries' production. He also indicated that his Institution would report to the European Parliament and to the Council on a voluntary labelling scheme.
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2676
summary
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2005/06/22
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
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2005/05/30
Legislative proposal published
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COM(2005)0221
summary
PURPOSE : to lay down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production.PROPOSED ACT : Council Directive.CONTEXT : a report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare of March 2000, "The Welfare of Chickens Kept for Meat Production (Broilers)", identified a number of welfare problems, such as metabolic disorders resulting in leg problems, ascites, sudden death syndrome and other health concerns. The farming of chickens for meat production represents an important farming sector within the EU. This is illustrated by the fact that more than 4 billion chickens are slaughtered for meat production in the EU-15 each year, a higher number of animals than from any other farming system.With the accession of the ten New Member States on 1 May 2004 this number increased by approximately 18 %. This sector is not covered by specific Community legislation; only the general requirements of Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes apply. Therefore the Commission has decided to propose a specific Council Directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production.CONTENT : this proposal aims to introduce animal welfare improvements in the intensive farming of chickens by means of technical and management requirements for the establishments, including enhanced monitoring on the farms and an increased flow of information between the producer, competent authorities and the slaughterhouse based on a welfare-specific monitoring of the chicken carcasses after slaughter. This proposal will be a key element in the context of the European Action Plan on Animal Welfare to be prepared by the Commission during 2005. It clearly demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to bringing forward policy proposals with the aim of improving animal welfare standards, taking account of the welfare problems with current production systems identified by scientific experts. It also responds to the growing demands of EU civil society to move towards higher standards of animal protection.
- DG {'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm', 'title': 'Health and Consumers'}, KYPRIANOU Markos
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COM(2005)0221
summary
Documents
- Legislative proposal published: COM(2005)0221
- Debate in Council: 2676
- Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A6-0017/2006
- Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
- Results of vote in Parliament: Results of vote in Parliament
- Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T6-0053/2006
- Debate in Council: 2739
- : Directive 2007/43
- : OJ L 182 12.07.2007, p. 0019
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