This is the CPI’s position on bird welfare

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The International Poultry Council (IPC), which brings together 83 countries and over 88% of world poultry meat production, has formalized its vision on animal welfare, which we reproduce below.

The International Poultry Council (IPC) develops policies and addresses common concerns to promote the long-term interests and sustainability of the global poultry industry. The CPI is officially recognized as a representative organization of the global poultry industry by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Codex Alimentarius.

In accordance with a Memorandum of Understanding, the OIE and the CPI shall consult on issues of common interest, including animal health and welfare. This document summarizes the CPI’s position on the main elements of animal welfare.

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Well-being in context

• The CPI recognizes that animal welfare is complex and multifactorial, involving scientific, ethical, economic, cultural, social and religious dimensions.

The needs of the animal

• The CPI agrees that, in accordance with the five internationally accepted objectives of freedom and animal welfare, birds must have safe drinking water, adequate food, proper handling, health care and an environment appropriate to the needs and use of their species, and they need to be cared for in ways that prevent and minimize fear, pain, anxiety, and suffering.
• The CPI supports training in the field of social assistance for all employees who work directly with live birds or who deal directly with those who work directly with live birds. Regular and appropriate welfare training should provide a perspective on the behavioral, biological and welfare needs of birds. The training should also cover practical management skills, human management techniques and an understanding of biosecurity procedures that protect the health of birds.
• The CPI supports the development of production systems that improve animal welfare and in which the environmental, economic and sustainability aspects of the system are also taken into account together with animal welfare elements.
• The CPI supports the integration of animal welfare principles into the corporate culture of companies along the poultry supply chain. CPI member companies and organizations are advocating for programs that improve bird welfare outcomes and increase transparency in bird care and production practices.

International standards

• The CPI supports results-based bird welfare programs and supports the commitment of the poultrymeat sector and other stakeholders to implement results-based animal welfare measures at all stages of production, transport and slaughter. . The CPI provides knowledge and experience in the poultry industry to discuss with various stakeholders on the development of animal welfare policies, especially under the auspices of the OIE.
• The CPI supports the role of the OIE and its mandate to define and promote the adoption of international standards for animal health and welfare, recognizes the importance of these standards in stimulating safe international trade in animals and animal products and their relevance to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• The CPI supports internationally aligned animal welfare standards, which are species-specific, based on animal welfare results and are regularly updated to reflect new scientific knowledge and industry experience.
• The CPI encourages dialogue and collaboration in setting standards based on appropriate results and measures. Results-based standard-setting is strengthened with the participation of broad stakeholders and public and private sector specialists, including animal husbandry and animal husbandry, which focus on the continuous and incremental improvement of poultry health and welfare outcomes.

Alignment guarantee

• The CPI encourages the evolution of private animal welfare systems towards results-based standards, which are in line with OIE international standards and are practical and applicable to the poultry and regulatory sectors and are clear and transparent to consumers. Greater alignment of welfare guarantee regimes and regulations with the standards and measures recognized in OIE international standards would bring greater clarity to all stakeholders.

Sustainable Development

These key elements of well-being underpin the CPI’s commitment to the sustainable development of the sector. The CPI focuses on the following five UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Zero hunger (SDG 2): share good practices, achieve food security and promote sustainable production;
• Good health and well-being (SDG 3): promoting poultry farming as a healthy option and sharing good management and manufacturing practices;
• Quality education (SDG 4): training to ensure staff training to ensure sustainable poultry farming;
• Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9): building resilient infrastructure and a global supply chain to support innovative and sustainable industrialization;
• Climate actions (SDG 13): reduction of greenhouse gases and waste through increased efficiency and productivity.