AVIANZA COMMUNICATE: A “World Poultry Day” with little to celebrate for the Spanish poultry meat production sector

After three years of overcoming the different crises that affected society as a whole, today, International Poultry Day, the sector is once again threatened by the implementation of regulations that would condition its competitiveness and decimate the ability of farmers to choose. consumers

Madrid, May 10, 2023. On the occasion of the meeting of its Board of Directors, AVIANZA, the majority association of the Spanish meat poultry sector, which brings together more than 65 associated companies, 5,000 farms and represents more than 90% of companies linked to the chicken, turkey and quail meat sector, has decided to launch a joint statement to express their more absolute concern given what he considers a new attack against one of the key sectors for the self-sufficiency and food diversity of our country.

• “Today, May 10, commemorates the World Poultry Day, he International Poultry Day, but we believe that there is little to celebrate, because despite being one of the strategic sectors of Spanish meat production, we are once again in the spotlight of possible regulations that would have dire consequences for consumers, both in Spain and in Europe. as a whole.

• One of the most recent threats comes from the European Comission, through the published recommendations of the opinion of the EFSA (European Food Safety Agency). We believe that this study has not been transparent and is based on questionable scientific opinions, in addition to lack a comprehensive vision around the three pillars of sustainability: social, environmental and economic. We strongly recommend listening to the arguments launched from AVEC/ELPHA/EPB and The Poultry Veterinary Study Group.

• Its implementation would mean strike down the 70% of poultry meat production in Europe, causing costs to rise (up to multiplied by 3), the consequent impact throughout the entire value chain and pressure on a continuously rising CPI.

• Again we would have a affected population, with consumers who would see how affordable access to one of the main sources of quality protein becomes more expensive, and for which the supply of types of birds to choose from would be reduced. We remember that Spain has a fifth of its population at risk of poverty according to the OECD, so making it even more difficult for a vulnerable population to access a basic shopping basket is clearly unfair. Legislating cannot mean continuing to eliminate essential European productive sectors.

• A clearly ineffective measure, since would reduce the competitiveness of our companies to the detriment of markets outside the EU where quality standards are infinitely far from those of our country.

• Something that we are also seeing in other European markets with the adoption by the Distribution channel of the ECC initiative (confusingly called European Chicken Commitment), promoted by animal and vegan organizations. In this sense, it is necessary to call things by their name, since The ECC aims to eradicate poultry meat production on farms with intensive systems by 2026.

• An attack against freedom of consumers to choose the type of product to consume, under supposed principles of animal welfare and control of production by their own organizations, clearly unnecessary, since practically the 100% of the production of poultry meat that is sold to Distribution by our Spanish companies already has the certification of Welfare Quality, an independent entity managed by IRTA, among others.

• Finally, it is worth remembering that there are many strengths that have turned the poultry meat sector into a European benchmark in modernization of facilities, professionalization of its workforce and promotion of internationalization, never before addressed. For all these reasons, we ask that an in-depth analysis be carried out, without bias, transparent and open to consumer opinion to decide what type of poultry meat we want to promote and protect today and in the future.