Implementation of EU Council Directive (2007/43/EC) laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (broilers)
The above EU Directive introduces new rules for the keeping of meat chickens and will be applicable to all Member States.
The Directive sets a maximum stocking density and defines minimum management and training requirements.
Scope of the Directive
The Directive applies to holdings with conventionally reared meat chickens but does not apply to breeding chickens, free-range (if marketed as such), organic chickens (if marketed as such), extensive indoor (if marketed as such) or holdings with fewer than 500 birds. Producers with meat chickens to which the Directive applies will need to comply with certain requirements.
These requirements are laid out in domestic legislation, the Welfare of Farmed Animals (Scotland) Regulations 2010, which transposes the Directive in Scotland.
The Directive can be viewed here Council Directive 2007/43/EC.