The Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) is a set of welfare standards and guidelines aimed at improving the lives of chickens raised for meat production.
Developed by animal welfare organizations and advocacy groups, the BCC outlines specific criteria and expectations for the treatment of chickens throughout their lives, from breeding and rearing to transportation and slaughter.
Since January 2018, more than 200 prominent food companies across Europe have publicly pledged to adhere to the BCC standards by 2026. These commitments signal a growing recognition within the industry of the importance of addressing animal welfare concerns.
The new standards proposed by the BCC include measures such as reducing stocking density to a maximum of 30kg/m2 and transitioning to slower-growing breeds of chickens. Additionally, there are provisions for increasing access to natural light and providing perching areas, all of which aim to enhance the living conditions for industrially farmed chickens.
However, a key challenge facing the implementation of these standards is the associated cost. Moving towards practices aligned with the BCC, which resemble those of free-range farming, comes with increased expenses. Currently, free-range chickens cost approximately twice as much to produce as conventionally raised chickens. The question arises: Are food industry leaders willing to invest in these improvements? While there may be resistance due to concerns about profitability, there is also growing consumer demand for ethically produced food products.
Read more:
The Better Chicken Commitment
Study: Costs & implications of the ECC in the EU
