WRITTEN QUESTION E-1144/03 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission. Welfare of broiler chickens.
Date: 2003-04-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, animal welfare, intensive livestock farming, meat processing industry, protection of animals, slaughtered poultry, veterinary inspection

C 280 E/118

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

(2003/C 280 E/134)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1144/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Welfare of broiler chickens

1.
Given the EU’s commitment to the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (defined in
Council Directive 98/58/EC and the European Convention for the protection of animals kept for farming
purposes), does the Commission intend to bring forward any new measures to improve the health and
welfare of broiler chickens?

In particular, is the Commission aware of the problem of overcrowding of broiler chickens, which

2.
can lead to birds being unable to reach food or water and sometimes starvation or heart failure?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2003)

(Scahaw) described
In an ‘…/sc/scah/out39_en.pdf’ adopted in March 2000, the ‘aw_scahaw_en.html’
the
welfare problems of broilers kept
Commission is in the process of elaborating a proposal for the protection of chickens kept for the
production of meat. In doing so the Commission will also take into account the Scahaw recommendations
addressing the questions related to the rapid growth rate of these animals.

in intensive conditions (1). Having regard to this opinion,

The Commission is examining the possibility of following an integrated approach in its proposal, by
promoting good management practices and monitoring the welfare status of the animals via integrated
veterinary controls carried out at slaughterhouses. Concerning the specific question referred to by the
Honourable Member, the Commission foresees to include in its proposal standards for the stocking density
in order to enable the animals to perform natural behaviour patterns and to avoid problems in relation to
the access to watering and feeding devices.

(1)

‘The Welfare of Chickens Kept for Meat Production (Broilers)’.

(2003/C 280 E/135)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1227/03

by Anne Jensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 April 2003)

Subject: Periodic inspection of motor vehicles for the conveyance of passengers

It is surprising that it was deemed necessary for the EU to draw up rules governing the periodic inspection
of motor vehicles for the conveyance of passengers. Does the Commission consider that regulation in this
area, with all the bureaucracy and inconvenience that it has entailed (cid:1) not least in Denmark (cid:1) is in
proportion to the impact of the directive?

What results have been achieved by Directive 91/328/EEC (1) (subsequently amended by Directive 96/96/
EEC (2)), which requires Member States to carry out periodic inspections of motor vehicles used for the
conveyance of passengers? Could not such regulation have been carried out just as well at national level in
the light of Article 5 of the EC Treaty concerning the subsidiarity principle?

(1) OJ L 178, 6.7.1991, p. 29.
(2) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997, p. 1.