Document type: press release published on Animal Welfare label
Author : Étiquette Animal Welfare
Preview: The Association Étiquette Bien-Être Animal has unveiled an innovative quality standards system for laying hens. Following similar initiatives for broilers and pigs, the Association Étiquette Bien-Être Animal has now developed a quality reference system for the labelling of products from laying hens. Representing a genuine step forward for the industry, the system assesses indicators for both methods and outcomes, with direct observations of the animals themselves, ensuring traceability from birth to slaughter. This move forms part of a drive to meet the growing consumer demand for products that show greater respect for animal welfare: in March 2023, 82% of the French public supported the introduction of mandatory labelling information on farming methods. This quality assurance system applies to shell eggs, egg products and all products containing eggs. It includes the assessment of performance indicators, such as Animal Based Measures, in line with ANSES recommendations.
The Animal Welfare Label for laying hens: a comprehensive tool for transparency and traceability
With 144 criteria, the technical standards established evaluate the level of welfare of parents, chicks, pullets and laying hens, from birth to the end of production. This welfare quality reference framework, the product of close collaboration between those involved across the entire production chain and animal welfare NGOs, is also the result of extensive external consultation to guarantee that it is both appropriate and operable.
Why choose the French Animal Welfare Label?
1- Enhanced consumer information: the label provides a quality assurance for standards of animal welfare that goes well beyond simple standards for eggs that refer only to farming methods.
2- Visibility of the supply chain: it ensures complete traceability from birth to the birds' place of slaughter.
3- Promotion of existing practices: innovative animal welfare initiatives are scored higher, encouraging their adoption.
4- A solid foundation for the future: these quality standards are part of a continuous improvement process, and take into account the latest scientific advances. This trailblazer meets all French and European recommendations in terms of animal welfare labelling.
Key figures for the new laying hen technical standards
144 detailed criteria including:
- 26 criteria for parental stock and hatcheries
- 23 criteria for pullet rearing
- 86 criteria for laying hen rearing
- 9 criteria for collection and traceability
Farms providing access to the open air can claim lower levels A and B. Flooring systems with verandas, recognized as providing a significant improvement to layer welfare, can be classed as level C. The technical guidelines are available here.
We invite professionals to join us
Participation in the labelling system is voluntary, and can be carried out one product range at a time. Every year, 100% of layer farms are inspected by independent, qualified auditors.
Recent roll-out statistics
In just five years, the Animal Welfare Label Association has already brought together 24 member groups, including animal protection NGOs, members of from the distribution, retail and catering sectors, and producer and processor organizations. The label has been rolled out widely in the broiler chicken sector, with nearly 40% of French farmers audited and the involvement of 70% of retailers. More than thirty labelled product ranges are now on the shelves.
Our next step: the dairy cattle sector
Following the successful co-construction of these three reference systems for standards (poultry, pigs and eggs), the Association Étiquette Bien-Être Animal has announced the launch of work to prepare a welfare quality label for the dairy cattle sector, continuing its commitment to animal welfare. We invite professionals to join us in this innovative project and become part of the collective drive for farm animal welfare!
