Netherlands tightens rules for chicken farming density
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The Netherlands will increase oversight of rules governing how many broiler chickens farmers can raise per square meter, following a judgment from the European Commission that current practices do not align with European regulations.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Safety and Nature will clarify the conditions under which farmers can house a maximum number of chickens, and will begin stricter enforcement on January 1, 2027.
Farmers who choose to keep a high density of chickens, more than 33 kilograms per square meter, must meet additional requirements. These include maintaining a specific ammonia level and ensuring the indoor temperature does not exceed the outdoor temperature by more than three degrees Celsius during heat waves. They also need to keep detailed records about their facilities, including ventilation, feed, water, and mortality rates.
For those aiming for the highest density, between 39 and 42 kilograms per square meter, even stricter rules apply. Cumulative mortality rates are capped at 1 percent plus 0.06 times the number of days, meaning a farm operating for 39 days cannot exceed 3.34 percent mortality. Additionally, farmers must track and report footpad lesions to the AVINED foundation. If mortality rates become too high, farmers must reduce density for seven consecutive cycles, approximately one year, to a lower category.
Animal welfare organisation Wakker Dier filed a complaint with the European Commission in 2023, arguing that Dutch authorities only checked mortality after the first report of a problem, which violated European rules. The Ministry intends to revise relevant regulations to address these concerns.
