Document type: Answer from the European Commission to question E-002989/2025
Authors: question : Mathilde Androuët (PfE). Answer: Mr Hansen on behalf of the European Commission
Preview: Question : The issue of animal welfare on our farms has become a major source of concern for many consumers. The Commission itself, which takes note of the ethical demands voiced in this regard, was at the origin of Directives 2007/43/EC and 98/58/EC, which are applicable to European farmers. European farmers are, of course, required to comply with these directives, and must shoulder the economic consequences arising from this compliance.
At EU level, the maximum quota for poultry exports from Ukraine to the EU for 2024 was set at 132,000 tonnes. However, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Government based on customs data[1]actual poultry exports from Ukraine to the EU amounted to 373 800 tonnes (poultry and poultry products) from January to October 2024 alone.
1. Does the Commission dispute the cited figures?
2. Is the Commission able to certify - and if so, on what basis - that Ukrainian poultry imported into the EU market was reared under conditions compatible with animal welfare standards (density ≥ 50 kg/m² and unregulated transport), as laid down in the above-mentioned directives?
3. If the Commission is unable to do so, how does it justify the entry of products resulting from practices that are banned in the European Union, which would be tantamount to dumping, both ethically and economically?
[1] 'Ukraine halves the EU poultry export quota', 14 January 2025, https://www.poultryworld.net/the-industrymarkets/market-trends-analysis-the-industrymarkets-2/ukraine-halves-the-eu-poultry-export-quota/
Answer in English (original): In 2024, Ukrainian imports into the EU took place under the Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) for Ukraine[1]. Article 4(7) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1392 (the ATM Regulation) provided for an emergency brake for several products, including poultry, that could be automatically triggered if import volumes reached the average yearly imports between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2023. For poultry, this volume amounted to 137 042.80 tonnes. In 2024, EU imports of poultry from Ukraine amounted to 136 825 tonnes, thus remaining below the threshold[2]. The cited figure of 373 800 tonnes relates to Ukraine's global poultry exports.
Imports of agricultural products from any third country into the EU are subject to the Union's rules on sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS).
The referenced Directives do not include equivalency for imports, meaning that imported poultry products are not bound by animal welfare standards relating to the conditions under which poultry are kept on farms. Article 44 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625[3] stipulates that the competent national authorities are responsible for carrying out official controls on goods introduced into the EU.
As part of the review of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA)[4]Ukraine has committed to align its legislation to a number of EU agri-food standards by 31 December 2028. These encompass, among others, relevant EU legal acts on animal welfare, including Directives 2007/43/EC[5] and 98/58/EC[6]. If the EU assesses the alignment as unsatisfactory, it may suspend all or some of the preferences granted in this review.
[1] Regulation (EU) 2024/1392 of the European Parliament and of the Council of May 14, 2024 on temporary trade liberalization measures additional to the trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, OJ L, 2024/1392.
[2] Eurostat.
[3] Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities serving to ensure compliance with food law, feed law, animal health and welfare rules, plant health rules and rules on plant protection products, OJ L 95, 7.4.2017.
