Document type: article published by Process Alimentaire
Author: Christophe Meneust
Preview: After more than a decade of evolving farming practices, the French chicken industry is taking a new step forward by organizing its initiatives around a common set of standards. Launched on September 9, the collective “Filière Agricole Engagée pour Élever animal welfare ” brings together nearly 80 signatories from across the entire supply chain: farmers, producer organizations, hatcheries, processors, foodservice operators, experts, veterinarians, and scientists*. More than 1,300 farmers are now committed to this initiative.“It’s time for us to unite so we can have a strong voice,” says Tristan, a chicken farmer in Maine-et-Loire and representative of the collective. The goal is twofold: to continue improving chicken welfare and to raise awareness of the progress already made.
Measuring Progress on Animal Welfare
The framework is based on 26 commitments and five key requirements that exceed regulatory obligations. It provides for more space in buildings, access to natural light, environmental enrichment to stimulate natural behaviors, enhanced health and hygiene standards, and regular training for farmers and technicians. In particular, the available space has been increased by approximately 10% compared to the maximum regulatory density. The quality of the litter and the incidence of pododermatitis are among the parameters being monitored. Perches, pecking substrates, twine, and bales of straw are also provided.“The goal is to move toward indicators that are as animal-centered as possible—centered on the chicken,” the group explained. The initial results reported are presented as a starting point for this process of continuous improvement. On participating farms, 80% of the indicators in the EVA (Filière Avicole & Élevage) interprofessional framework received the highest rating, compared to the usual 70%. The collective also reports a 61% decrease in antibiotic use between 2011 and 2024, a 37% reduction in foot pad dermatitis, and a 10% increase in the diversity of behaviors observed in chickens. These results are monitored with the support of experts and independent veterinarians.
130 M€ invested since 2016
This initiative formalizes investments already made in poultry farms. It involves 2,600 chicken coops. The renovations cover more than 3.4 million square meters, and approximately 100,000 square meters of windows have been installed to provide natural light. The group estimates that farmers and their partners have invested 130 million euros since 2016. The challenge now is to highlight the value of these investments and keep the momentum going.“We’ve improved the quality of life for millions of chickens in recent years. These efforts deserve to be recognized, but we’re ready to go even further,” says Louis-Marie, a chicken, turkey, duck, and guinea fowl farmer in the Deux-Sèvres department and a representative of the collective.
A Unique Label for “
” Products It is with this in mind that the “Animal Welfare – Committed Agricultural Sector” label was created. It will gradually begin appearing starting in September on the packaging of the relevant products, as well as in other retail channels: commercial and institutional food service, snack bars, butcher shops, and self-service kiosks. The logo identifies products made from 100% French chickens that meet the common standards. It will be accompanied by a QR code providing access to details about the commitments and criteria. The dedicated website will also allow professionals wishing to join the initiative to promote their businesses.
According to the collective’s leaders, the choice of a deliberately simple symbol is based on the findings of several consumer studies conducted beforehand. The goal is to enable quick recognition in an environment where quality labels and logos are proliferating, while avoiding messaging that could be perceived as guilt-inducing. The initiative is also intended to complement other existing initiatives. Products that meet the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) standards will be eligible to display the new logo as long as they comply with all the core criteria defined by the collective. Notably, the LDC Group has announced the launch, effective October 1, of new ECC product lines for its Le Gaulois and Maître Coq brands.
Well-being, French origin, and sovereignty
The initiative is also presented as a means to increase the volume of chicken produced in France. Chicken consumption is growing by more than 5% per year and accounts for nearly 80% of the poultry consumed in France. At the same time, more than one in every two chickens consumed in France is imported. For the group, raising standards must therefore go hand in hand with maintaining an affordable supply. The challenge is to advance “ animal welfare ” in everyday chicken consumption, while strengthening the competitiveness of French production against imports.
This ambition also involves expanding production capacity. The Anvol interprofessional organization estimates that approximately 2,200 additional chicken coops will be needed by 2035 to meet demand and strengthen the sector’s self-sufficiency. The collective reports that it already has candidates interested in setting up operations, as well as expansion and construction projects. The modernization of slaughter equipment is another component of this strategy. Within the LDC Group, more than two-thirds of the chickens covered by the standards are already stunned using controlled atmosphere, a technique whose deployment is set to continue. Furthermore, more than 80% of the chickens covered by this initiative are slaughtered at facilities equipped with video surveillance.
An initiative set to expand
The collective aims to be open to new economic stakeholders, as well as to institutions and organizations wishing to contribute to improving animal welfare. Its governance is intentionally flexible, without a traditional hierarchical structure, while the various members contribute their resources and expertise. A multichannel communications campaign will accompany the launch. In particular, it will feature several livestock farmers, selected as ambassadors for the initiative. A television campaign is scheduled to begin in September, complemented by initiatives in print and digital media.
*Non-exhaustive list: Bourdicaud, Bureau ÊTRE, Cavac, Ciab, Amandine Chaignot, DanHatch France, Daunat, Eureden, Class’croûte, Comptoir du frais, DS Restauration, Éric Guérin, France Frais, Grosdoit, Groupe Le Saint, Groupe LDC (the Upstream division with 3 chick hatcheries and 7 production organizations, the 5 major regional subsidiaries of the Poultry division, and the Catering division), Groupe Michel, Le Gouessant, ITAVI, Marcy, Metro, Sanders, Taster, Transgourmet
