Today, the European Commission has adopted a report taking stock of the 2007 Directive laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. The Directive is now fully transposed in all Member States, and the document concludes that it has been the basis for improvement of the management and housing for broilers, having a positive effect on the health and welfare of the birds. Some improvement can still be achieved – for example proper assessment of technical requirements like ventilation – and the Commission encourages the dissemination of good practice for controls and guidance on farm management.

This Report is also the last deliverable by the Commission of the Animal Welfare strategy launched in 2012. The EU represents 11.3% of the global production of broilers, with a total of 14.1 million tonnes of poultry meat in 2014, totalizing 6.5 billion birds. The poultry sector is also a major economic actor with just over 250.000 people employed in it.

Welcoming the publication of this report, Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis stressed that "it is another sign that proper implementation of EU rules have a positive impact on the welfare of animals. Though progress can still be achieved, the Directive adopted 10 years ago has not affected the competitiveness of a sector which is of major importance for the EU's agriculture. Overall, the conclusion of the Animal Welfare strategy shows that the EU is a global leader in development of animal welfare and I am fully committed to continue working to improve the standards further".