The poultry industry welcomes the recommendations of the competence network
The German poultry industry welcomes the recommendations of the Competence Network for Livestock Farming to the Federal Government as an important building block for sustainable agriculture in Germany supported by a broad social consensus. "Over the past few months, representatives from science, business, animal welfare and consumer protection have worked together to develop a real social contract," says Friedrich-Otto Ripke, President of the Central Association of the German Poultry Industry. V. (ZDG), the performance of the competence network for livestock husbandry and in particular the prudent, consensus-oriented management by the former Federal Minister of Agriculture. D. Jochen Borchert. The German poultry industry is making a strong offer to politicians with a real broad impact for more animal welfare, but makes clear demands on politicians for the implementation of the recommendations:
- The criteria of the Animal Welfare Initiative (ITW) must be integrated into level 1 of the state animal welfare label
- A comprehensive, independent impact assessment that expressly includes the upstream and downstream areas is essential
- A contractually secured state animal welfare premium supported by a broad political majority with a term of at least 20 years is needed
- The schedule for the implementation of the future-oriented strategic goals must be realistic and must not be too short-term!
- Mandatory labeling of husbandry and origin is required
- The recommendations of the competence network must lead to an EU-wide uniform solution in order to maintain the competitiveness of German livestock farming.
"We are very well prepared and able to start labeling around 80 percent of meat production and 90 percent of egg production almost from the start," says Ripke, referring to the animal welfare initiative (ITW) and the association for controlled alternative forms of animal husbandry (KAT) for poultry meat and eggs already ensured identity, i.e. the controlled and documented traceability of the products to the companies of origin. The husbandry criteria are defined at ITW and KAT and can be quickly adopted by the Competence Network's poultry working group and adapted to the specific requirements of the three-stage label system.
Poultry farming offers a real broad impact for more animal welfare
"After all, it's more than a million tons of poultry meat and over a million tons of eggs every year," says ZDG President Ripke, making the broad impact for more animal welfare clear. "The 'Klöckner label' would then have content and substance immediately - and consumers would also have a wide range of products." As the German poultry industry, we are a reliable partner and will accompany you on the path to a successful result if the requirements mentioned are implemented.”
About the ZDG
The Central Association of the German poultry industry e. V. represents as a trade roof and top organization, the interests of the German poultry industry at national and EU level towards political, official and professional organizations, the public and abroad. The approximately 8.000 members are organized in federal and state associations.
