Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Welfare Global Variation

Global variation in poultry welfare standards creates significant differences in the welfare experiences of chickens and turkeys across production systems and regulatory jurisdictions.

Key Facts

EU cage-free transition by 2027 will affect hundreds of millions of laying hens
US has no federal laying hen housing standards with state-level variation
Brazil and Thailand as major exporters have variable welfare standards
Consumer market pressure is driving welfare improvements beyond regulatory minimums
Global harmonisation of welfare standards remains a distant but important goal

Welfare Considerations

Global poultry welfare variation creates ethical challenges for consumers and importers sourcing from jurisdictions with lower standards. Market-driven welfare improvements through supply chain standards offer a pathway to raising welfare globally beyond regulatory minimums in producing countries.

What You Can Do

Support import standards that require equivalent welfare to domestic production
Choose poultry products with verified supply chain welfare standards
Advocate for global poultry welfare standards through international trade bodies