WORLD POULTRY 2012: Focus on Welfare, Consumer Safety

BELGIUM - The main focus of the second and final day of the World Poultry 2012 conference in Brussels was on the broad themes of welfare regulations and consumer safety, reports senior editor, Jackie Linden.

24 May 2012

3 minute read

By: Jackie Linden

Europe

In his summing up of the second day of the World Poultry 2012 conference, session chairman, Cees Vermeeren singled out the presentation by José Manuel Arana of Mexico as one that points to a right future for the sector. Mr Arana is President and General Manager of Tyson de México. He described how he was managing and driving the business there, highlighting the importance of people and their passion for the business as well as the opportunities offered by alliances with other food processors.

Turning the attention of the audience to regulatory issues, Agnetha Norgren of the DG for Health & Consumers of the European Commission outlined the current status of the broiler welfare regulations in the EU from the regulators’ point of view.

Daniel Dring of P.D. Hook in the UK, described the practical implications of the regulations, including the monitoring of welfare indicators. Mr Vermeeren singled out particularly the impacts of the change in measuring mortality.

There is no clear direct link between the use of antibiotics in poultry and antimicrobial resistance, according to Dr Jan Dahl of the Danish Agriculture and Food Council. However, he stressed that the industry must fulfil its responsibilities regarding the resistance factor, Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL).

Vencomatic’s Sales & Marketing Director, Erik Helmink, described his company’s innovation for hatching in the broiler house. The Patio system allows the birds to be raised without antibiotics and with increased uniformity.

Representing the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Winy Messens outlined the options for controlling foodborne pathogens in the meat production chain from the perspective of risk management. Mr Vermeeren stressed the complexity of the issue and how more tools and information are needed for the sector, particularly for the control of Campylobacter.

Last but not least, Alan Lyne of ADAS UK outlined how to get the best from Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems.

In his summing up, Mr Vermeeren said the 16 speakers and networking opportunities at the conference, organised by Informa, had been fruitful and offered a great deal of food for thought, and he thanked the sponsors, Cobb, Stork/Marel and Vencomatic.