Submissions Called for on Broiler Health, Welfare

EU - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is calling for data on the health and welfare aspects of genetic selection of broilers.
calendar icon 17 December 2009
clock icon 2 minute read

According to EFSA, the 2000 report of the Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare on the welfare of broilers concluded that a wide range of metabolic and behavioural traits in broilers have been changed by selection practices.

The report concluded that many welfare problems in broilers seem to emanate from the way the animals and the parent stock are bred.

Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production calls for the European Commission to submit to the European Parliament and Council a report concerning the influence of genetic selection on identified deficiencies resulting in poor welfare of chickens.

The European Commission has requested European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to assess all relevant available information from scientific studies and proprietary sources. The European Commission has also requested EFSA to issue two Scientific Opinions: the first one on the influence of genetic selection on the welfare and resistance to stress of commercial broilers and the second one on the welfare of broiler parent and grandparent stocks raised and kept for breeding purposes.

For the background and terms of reference of the mandate received from the European Commission is appended to this report (Appendix A), click here.

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