The government announces a ban on fast-growing chickens
Økologisk NuBoth Anima, the Danish Animal Welfare Society and the organic farmers are delighted that there is now broad support for a national ban on turbo chickens, but EU rules make it difficult to curb imports of fast-growing chickens from abroad. A majority of the parties in the Folketing want to ban the production of turbo chickens in Denmark. The decision could help reduce the price gap between conventional and organic chickens. Minister for Animal Welfare Christian Rabjerg Madsen (Social Democrats) says he will work toward a national ban on turbo chickens. This means that the entire government, as well as the Conservative Party, the Liberal Alliance, the Red–Green Alliance and The Alternative, have now all stated that turbo chickens should become a thing of the past. “The images we have seen from the production of Danish turbo chickens are unacceptable. They bear witness to very serious animal-welfare problems. That is why I also want to work toward a national ban,” Christian Rabjerg told DR. According to Berlingske, seven parties had already expressed their support yesterday for a national ban on so-called turbo chickens. After TV 2 broadcast undercover footage last night showing the conditions at one of the country’s largest broiler producers, the minister responsible has now called for an end to turbo-chicken production. Absolutely fantastic The prospect of saying goodbye to the turbo chicken has been met with jubilation by Anima, the Danish Animal Welfare Society and the Organic Farmers’ Association, all of which have long worked to secure better animal welfare in Danish chicken houses. “It is absolutely fantastic that the government is now clearly stating that we need a ban on turbo chickens, and we hope the minister will act quickly. In addition, it is crucial that he involve the retail sector so that we can fully achieve the phaseout that both citizens and politicians want to see,” Mathias Madsen, Anima’s campaign manager, said in a press release. The minister’s statement came after TV 2 published undercover footage on Tuesday from a chicken farm which, according to the Danish Animal Welfare Society, once again shows that chickens suffer because of their rapid growth. “It is deeply unethical and grotesque breeding. The excessively rapid growth is a systematic failure toward the chickens, with the animals’ suffering effectively guaranteed in advance. It is already illegal to breed animals in ways that harm them, but this is clearly not being enforced. Turbo chickens should be banned as soon as possible,” said Britta Riis, director of the Danish Animal Welfare Society. She describes it as an important victory that a broad majority in the Folketing now wants to ban turbo chickens and put an end to the current breeding practices, but for the Danish Animal Welfare Society this is only one step toward better conditions for chicken production. “It is fantastic that a broad political majority now wants to put an end to the breeding that has led to turbo chickens. But we must not assume that the problem is solved simply because the chickens grow a little more slowly. TV 2’s revelations make it clear to everyone that the animals live horrible lives in cramped conditions, where they never see daylight. We believe they are entitled to that,” said Britta Riis, who is also a board member of the Organic Farmers’ Association. The retail chains have an important role Lars Bredahl, chair of the association’s Egg and Poultry Committee, agrees, although he believes there is still good reason to wave the flag over the politicians’ statements. “From an animal-welfare perspective, this is a step in the right direction, but if it is to have a major impact, it will be crucial how the grocery chains respond to a phaseout of turbo chickens,” said the Jutland-based egg producer. In this connection, he points out that Danpo paid a heavy price several years ago when the company chose for a period to phase out the fast-growing breeds, only for the retail chains to import cheap chicken meat from abroad instead. “A ban would mean that the price gap between the cheapest Danish chickens and organic chickens would become smaller, but it is difficult to assess whether this would encourage more people to choose organic chicken,” Lars Bredahl said. When Denmark phased out caged eggs, there was also hope that this would lead more people to choose organic eggs. “But it turned out that those who had previously bought barn eggs simply switched to the next-cheapest option,” Lars Bredahl said. The risk of moving the problem elsewhere If Danish politicians make good on their plans to ban production, both Lars Bredahl and Jeppe Mouritsen, chairman of Agriculture & Food’s Poultry Committee, warn that Denmark acting alone could shift both production and jobs abroad. “Politicians need to think very carefully before choosing to act alone in Denmark. If you ban production in Denmark but continue importing the same products from other countries, all you have done is move jobs and our ability to influence animal welfare,” Jeppe Mouritsen said in a press release. “In that way, we have not gained anything; we have merely moved the problem,” Lars Bredahl stressed. He hopes for common EU rules in this area so that Denmark does not have to act alone.
Both Anima, the Danish Society for the Protection of Animals and the organic farmers are celebrating that there is now broad support for a national ban on turbo chickens, but EU rules make it difficult to stop imports of fast-growing chickens from abroad.
, that a majority of the parties in the Danish Parliament want to ban the production of turbo chickens in Denmark. The decision may help reduce the price gap between conventional and organic chickens.
Minister for Animal Welfare Christian Rabjerg Madsen (S) states that he will work for a national ban on turbo chickens. Thus, the entire government, along with the Conservative People’s Party, the Liberal Alliance, the Red-Green Alliance and The Alternative, have now all announced that turbo chickens should become a thing of the past.
”The images we have seen from the production of Danish turbo chickens are unacceptable. They bear witness to very serious challenges regarding animal welfare. That is why I would also like to work for a national ban,” Christian Rabjerg tells DR.
According to Berlingske, seven parties had already expressed yesterday that they wanted a national ban on the so-called turbo chickens, and after TV 2 last night published hidden recordings of the conditions for the chickens at one of the country’s largest slaughter-chicken producers, the responsible minister is now responding with a desire to stop the production of turbo chickens.
Absolutely fantastic
The prospect of saying goodbye to the turbo chicken is being celebrated by Anima, the Danish Society for the Protection of Animals and the Danish Organic Association, all of which have long worked to ensure better animal welfare in Danish chicken houses:
“It is absolutely fantastic that the government is now saying clearly and unequivocally that we must have a ban on turbo chickens, and we hope the minister will act quickly. In addition, it is crucial that he brings the retail sector on board, so that we fully achieve the phase-out that both citizens and politicians want to see,” says Mathias Madsen, campaign manager for Anima, in a press release.
The minister’s statement comes after TV 2 published hidden recordings on Tuesday from a chicken farm which, according to the Danish Society for the Protection of Animals, once again show that chickens suffer because of their rapid growth.
”It is deeply unethical and grotesque breeding. The excessively rapid growth is a systematic failure toward the chickens, where it is predetermined that the animals will experience great suffering. It is already illegal to breed animals in a way that harms them, but this is clearly not being enforced. The turbo chicken should be banned as soon as possible,” says Britta Riis, director of the Danish Society for the Protection of Animals.
She describes it as an important victory that a broad majority in the Danish Parliament now wants to ban turbo chickens and put an end to the current breeding, but for the Danish Society for the Protection of Animals this is only one step toward better conditions for chicken production.
”It is fantastic that a broad political majority now wants to put an end to the breeding that has led to turbo chickens. But we must not believe that the task is solved when the chickens grow a little more slowly. For TV 2's revelations make it clear to everyone that the animals live horrible lives in cramped conditions, where they never see daylight. We believe they are entitled to that,” says Britta Riis, who is a member of the board of the Danish Organic Association.
The chains have an important role
Lars Bredahl, chair of the association’s Egg and Poultry Committee, agrees, but he nevertheless believes there is good reason to wave the flag over the politicians’ statements.
”In terms of welfare, it is a step in the right direction, but if it is to have a major effect, it will be absolutely crucial how the grocery chains respond to phasing out turbo chickens,” says the Jutland egg producer.
In this connection, he points out that years ago Danpo paid a high price when the company chose for a period to phase out the fast-growing breeds, only for the chains to import cheap chicken meat from abroad.
”A ban will mean that the price gap between the cheapest Danish chickens and organic chickens becomes smaller, but it is difficult to assess whether this will lead more people to choose organic chicken,” says Lars Bredahl.
When Denmark phased out caged eggs, it was also hoped that this would lead more people to choose organic eggs.
”But it turned out that those who used to buy barn eggs simply switched to the next-lowest level,” says Lars Bredahl.
Risk of moving the problem
If Danish politicians make good on their plans to ban production, both Lars Bredahl and the chairman of L&F Poultry, Jeppe Mouritsen, warn that going it alone risks moving both production and jobs abroad.
”Politicians need to think very carefully before choosing to go it alone in Denmark. If you ban a production in Denmark but continue to import the same products from other countries, you have done nothing but move jobs and our ability to influence animal welfare,” says Jeppe Mouritsen in a press release.
”In that way, we have not gained anything, but merely moved the problem,” Lars Bredahl states, dreaming of common EU rules in the area so that Denmark does not go it alone.