On World Animal Day the European Parliament Plenary meeting unanimously called on the European Commission to fully enforce the Broiler Directive and resolve the animal welfare, environmental and health threats resulting from industrial broiler chicken farming. Commissioner Bienkowska committed to develop more animal welfare indicators and promote funding to higher welfare chicken farming systems through the CAP subsidies. She also announced that the the second EU reference centre on animal welfare would be dedicated to poultry welfare. MEPs criticised the Commission’s proposals during the debate, indicating they didn’t go far enough. As a next step MEPs will work on a motion for a resolution including proposals towards more sustainable, higher animal welfare broiler chicken farming.
