Related page: Petition Subway for more humane conditions for broiler chickens
The Commitment European Chicken Commitment concerns the welfare of chickens raised and killed for meat (broilers). It has been signed by a number of food industry giants including Unilever, Nestlé, Danone, Compass Group, Sodexo and others.
The text of the pledge was compiled by a number of leading animal protection organisations around the world (name, countries with chapters):
- Albert Schweitzer Stiftung für unsere Mitwelt (Germany)
- Anima (Denmark, Norway)
- Animal Equality (Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, World)
- Center for the Ethical Attitude Towards Nature (Belarus)
- Çiftlik Hayvanlarını Koruma Platform (Turkey)
- Compassion in World Farming (France, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, UK)
- Deutscher Tierschutzbund (Germany)
- Djurens Rätt (Sweden)
- Een DIER Een VRIEND (Netherlands)
- Eurogroup for Animals (pan-European)
- Albert Schweitzer Foundation (Poland)
- GAIA (Belgium)
- Humane Society International (worldwide)
- Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Ireland)
- L214 (France)
- Menschen für Tierrechte (Germany)
- Oikeutta eläimille (Finland)
- Otwarte Klatki / Open Cages (Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia, UK)
- OZ VEGAN HOURS (Slovakia)
- Pro iure animalis (Germany)
- PROVIEH (Germany)
- ProVeg International (Germany, worldwide)
- Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (UK)
- Chickens in Nouza (Czech Republic)
- The Humane League (UK, worldwide)
- VGT (Austria)
- Vier Pfoten / Four Paws (Austria, Germany, UK, Bulgaria)
- Welfarm (France)
- World Animal Protection (UK, World)
The commitment reads:
By 2026, we will require our suppliers to meet the following conditions for 100% of the chicken [fresh, frozen or processed] in our supply chain:
- Compliance with all EU animal welfare laws and regulations, regardless of country of production.
- Apply a maximum stocking density of 30 kg./sq. m. or less. Thinning [thinning/reducing] is not recommended and, if practiced, should be limited to one thinning per flock.
- Use breeds that demonstrate better welfare indicators [e.g. develop fewer complications due to selection]. Either the following breeds: Hubbard JA757, 787, 957 or 987, Rambler Ranger, Ranger Classic, and Ranger Gold; or other breeds that meet the criteria of the RSPCA Broiler Breed Welfare Assessment Protocol.
- Achieving improved growing environment conditions including:
- At least 50 lux of light, including natural light.
- At least two metres of usable perching area, and two substrates for pecking and burrowing, for every 1000 birds.
- For air quality, the maximum requirements of Annex 2.3 of the EU Broiler Directive, regardless of stocking density.
- No use of cages or multi-storey rearing systems.
- Introduction of stunning in a controlled atmosphere with inert gases, or multiphasic gas stunning, or effective electric stunning without turning conscious birds upside down.
- Demonstration of achieved compliance through third party audit and annual public reporting on progress against the criteria of this commitment.
The original English text of the declaration can be found here.
