Animal Welfare on the Farm - Broilers
Council Directive 2007/43/CE of 28 June 2007 laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production aims to reduce the overcrowding of chicken holdings, 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.
All Member States must transpose the Directive in national legislation and implement it by June 2010.
The
Commission proposal, 
already adopted on 30 May 2005, was based on a
scientific opinion of the
Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (SCAHAW) and extensive consultations with stakeholders and Member State experts.
Questions and answers on the welfare of chickens kept for meat production (broilers)
Working group on data collection in broilers' slaughterhouses, 10 October 2011
Presentations