Poultry is an important part of the European diet. In the past ten years, EU consumption has increased by 23% and experts predict a further slight increase over the next decade.
The European poultry sector is well prepared, both for the worldwide growing demand for this affordable source of protein and for the stringent requirements regarding food safety, animal welfare and environmental protection. Authorities and poultry association at EU and national levels are working hand in hand to ensure uniform high standards throughout the production chain. No matter which EU country the poultry meat comes from, consumers can always be confident that they are buying safe, high-quality poultry meat produced with high European standards.
The European poultry sector plays a relevant role on the global stage by being the third-largest poultry meat producer in the world after the USA and China .
Chicken meat accounts for the largest share (83%) of EU poultry production, turkey meat (13%) and duck meat (4%) follow at great distance.
The EU poultry sector plays an important role not only as a meat supplier but also as an economic factor employing numerous direct workers in breeding, growing, fattening, slaughtering and processing – most of them on one of the 25,000 family farms. In addition, there are many indirect jobs, for example in the feed, packaging sectors and the machinery industry producing the equipment used in slaughterhouses.
Animal welfare, food quality and sustainability are the three main goals of the European poultry sector. The Brussels-based umbrella organisation AVEC (European Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade) represents about 95% of poultry meat producers in the EU and is in constant contact with all relevant European and international organisations and decision-makers. At the national level, the associations representing the interest of producers and processors of chicken, turkey and duck are:
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