Chicken
Of our most common animals for meat consumption, the broiler chicken is the most efficient in converting cereal and protein feed to meat. In Swedish poultry production, 1.6-1.75 kg of feed is needed to produce 1 kg of chicken, which results in emissions of 2-3 kg carbon dioxide equivalents per kg of boneless meat*. Chicken thereby causes low emissions of greenhouse gases per kg of meat in comparison to other types of meat.
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| Transport of animals to slaughter | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Long-distance transports have a negative effect on animal health and animal protection and leads to a increased mortality rate. When poultry is transported before 08.00 A.M the mortality rate decreases. Within the EU, long-distance transports are allowed, which means a longer transport time than 12 hours. Criterion text Products of chicken and turkey must come from animals transported to slaughter for a maximum of 8 hours, including loading and unloading. When transported during the night, the transportation time to slaughter for chicken and turkey must be maximum 12 hours, including loading and unloading. | ||||
| Information about the origin of the raw material - meat | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Transparency and traceability in the food chain are important in order to be able to check sustainability parameters in the supply chain. By requiring that information about the origin of the raw-material is to be available and controllable, the procuring organization assures that traceability in the food chain is possible. Criterion text For products made from meat, information must be provided about the country(ies) of origin of the raw material(s), and this must be available for examination when a tender is submitted. This information must also be made available or provided on request throughout the term of the contract, including for any substitute items. Information about the commodity's country(ies) of origin shall include:
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| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliment and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | ||||
| Responsibly produced soy | Advanced | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information A large percentage of the soy used in European feed production comes from South America. The cultivation of soy has far-reaching negative consequences on the environment and human health due to high pesticide use, risk of establishment of new croplands in species-rich forest and savannah areas, soil erosion and the working conditions for labourers and the surrounding community. Procuring authorities may request that soy included in feed be cultivated in a responsible manner. Criterion text Soy used as feed must be traceable through a segregated supply chain or covered by a certificate that ensures compliance with the following:
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| No beak trimming - chicken and turkey | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Beak trimming means that part of the beak is amputated to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. In poultry breeding where animal welfare-promoting measures creates a healthy stable environment and low stress levels, feather pecking and cannibalism is less common. Beak trimming is hence not needed. Not allowing beak trimming is therefore a key criterion for animal welfare. Criterion text Products of chicken and turkey must come from animals whose beak has not modified during breeding, for example through trimming. This also applies to the parent generation. | ||||
| Occupancy rate - chicken | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information The number of animals per unit are, the occupancy rate, is an important aspect of animal welfare. Within different programmes and certifications, the occupancy varies. The number of animals affect the measures taken to ensure animal health when the occupancy rate is higher. A lower occupancy rate is not automatically better if fewer animals imply that the production lacks an animal health programme with other measures to ensure the health of the animals. Criterion text Products of chicken must come from animals bred in a facility where the occupancy rate has been max 36kg/m2. | ||||
| Action plan for reduced use of antibiotics - Chicken and turkey | Core | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Increased antibiotic resistance implies a large threat for global health and constitutes an important sustainability challenge. Vast use of antibiotics in animal production systems correlates to the development of antibiotic resistance. The use of antibiotics in animal production systems should therefore be held at a minimum. The use of antibiotics for growth promoting purposes is prohibited within the EU. Treatment with antibiotics should not be given to healthy animals to prevent diseases. Criterion text Products of chicken and turkey must come from production where a control-or animal health program including an action plan for preventive measures with the aim to reduce the use of antibiotics exists, and is made available on request. Antibiotics should not be used for growth promoting or disease prevention purposes, or to dampen expected disease outbreaks. Antibiotics must only be given to sick animals or animals in groups where there is a disease outbreak, after ordination from a veterinarian. | ||||
| Stunning at the time of slaughter - chicken and turkey | Advanced | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information A slaughter method that involves the animal being stunned during slaughter is very important from an animal protection perfective. The basic rule within the EU is that animals must be stunned at slaughter, but several member states admit exceptions to this rule. Sweden does not allow any exception and applies own, stricter rules regarding the current intensity when poultry is stunned using electrical water baths. If stunning with made with carbon dioxide, stunning should be made if two phases to ensure adequate stunning. Criterion text Products of chicken and turkey must come from animals which have been fully stunned when bleeding is performed and completely unconscious until death occurs. Electrical stunning, stunning with carbon dioxiode or inert gas (argon and/or nitrogen) are permitted stunning methods. When electrical water bath stunning is used for stunning of poultry, at the frequency of 50-200 Hz, the minimum current intensity should be at least 0,12 Ampere (120 mA) for chicken and 0,25 Ampere (250 mA) for turkey. The current intensity should be maintained until the animal is completely stunned. When carbon dioxide is used for stunning of poultry, the registration of the concentration of carbon dioxide must be made at a level which makes it possible to control that the time- and concentration is sufficient to ensure complete unconsciousness of the animals. Stunning is to be made in at least two phases. Initially the carbon dioxide concentration should be maximum 40%, followed by a higher concentration when the animal has lost consciousness. | ||||
| Health reporting system - chicken and turkey | Advanced | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Healthy animals represent an important aspect of animal protection, health and welfare as well as climate impact, since healthy animals produce more efficiently. Important factors in terms of animal health include foot health, protection against infection (such as cleaning of stables in-between stocks), occupancy rate and use of pharmaceutical products. Criterion text Products of chicken and turkey must come from a producer working according to a health reporting system that includes health parameters for animal welfare which at least covers: The health reporting system shall at least include the following parameters:
Parameters are to be monitored systematically, causes must be analyzed, deviations must be documented and result in appropriate action in consultation with a veterinarian or production advisor to remedy the problems. | ||||
| Limited use of antibiotics - chicken and turkey | Advanced | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Increased antibiotic resistance implies a large threat to global health and constitutes an important sustainability challenge. Vast use of antibiotics in animal production systems correlates to the development of antibiotic resistance. The use of antibiotics in animal production systems should therefore be held at a minimum. The use of antibiotics for growth promoting purposes is prohibited within the EU. Treatment with antibiotics should not be given to healthy animals to prevent disease. Criterion text Products of Chicken and turkey must come from stables where maximum 5% of the flock delivered to slaughter during a 12 months period have been treated with antibiotics according to the definition of veterinary medicinal products in Directive 2001/82/EC Antibiotics should not be used for growth promoting or disease prevention purposes, or to dampen expected disease outbreaks. Antibiotics must only be given to sick animals or animals in groups where there is a disease outbreak, after ordination from a veterinarian. | ||||
| Organic product - addition for chicken and eggs | Advanced | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information An organic production system aims to use natural resources such as energy, land and water in a long-term sustainable way. Organic farming should respect the natural ecosystems, natural cycles and maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. Criterion text Products of chicken and eggs must meet the criteria laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliment and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. Product must also meet following additional requirements:
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| Minimum use of antibiotics - chicken and turkey | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information Increased antibiotic resistance implies a large threat to global health and constitutes an important sustainability challenge. Vast use of antibiotics in animal production systems correlates to the development of antibiotic resistance. The use of antibiotics in animal production systems should therefore be held at a minimum. The use of antibiotics for growth promoting purposes is prohibited within the EU. Treatment with antibiotics should not be given to healthy animals to prevent disease. Criterion text Products of Chicken and turkey must come from stables where maximum 1% of the flock delivered to slaughter during a 12 months period have been treated with antibiotics according to the definition of veterinary medicinal products in Directive 2001/82/EC Antibiotics should not be used for growth promoting or disease prevention purposes, or to dampen expected disease outbreaks. Antibiotics must only be given to sick animals or animals in groups where there is a disease outbreak, after ordination from a veterinarian. | ||||
| Feed without GMO-content | Spearhead | Technical specification | ||
Criterion information EU legislation is restrictive with regards to approving the cultivation and import of GMO crops. The use of GMOs in feed is however common in the EU, mainly soya feed, and production mainly takes place outside of the EU.1 For soya 78% of the globally cultivated area is for genetically modified crops.2 Contracting authorities that aim to avoid GMOs being used in the production of foodstuffs of animal origin can request that products should come from animals that have not eaten GMO fodder. Criterion text Product of animal origin must be derived from animals whose feed used in the breeding did not contain GMOs in amounts that require labelling according to Directive 2001/18/EC Article 30.2. | ||||
Of our most common animals for meat consumption, the broiler chicken is the most efficient in converting cereal and protein feed to meat. In Swedish poultry production, 1.6-1.75 kg of feed is needed to produce 1 kg of chicken, which results in emissions of 2-3 kg carbon dioxide equivalents per kg of boneless meat*. Chicken thereby causes low emissions of greenhouse gases per kg of meat in comparison to other types of meat.
In the production of broiler chicken, the feed accounts for more than two-thirds of the total greenhouse gas emissions, which means that the feed consumption per kilo of meat and feed types have an impact on the climate impact of the meat. Animal health also influences the environmental and climate impact of the meat. A low mortality and healthy animals lead to lower environmental and climate impact per kg meat produced. Establishing criteria for animal protection and health in the procurement of chicken can therefore contribute to a reduced environmental and climate impact.
The production of broiler chicken is relatively similar around the world but with different requirements regarding animal care, animal health and disease control. Chickens are bred to about 1.3-4 kg and slaughtered at around five to six weeks of age. In the organic production of chicken, the animals must have access to the outdoors and the feed must be organically produced. The breeding time is longer which implies more feed per kilo meat produced. The slaughter of organically produced broiler chicken occurs at 81 days if conventional breeds are used.
The consumption of chicken has been increasing for a long time. Production in Sweden has also increased, as well as the import. The import of poultry mainly comes from Denmark according to the Swedish Board of Agriculture but also from Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Latvia and from countries outside of the EU such as Thailand and Brazil.
National Food Agency, Sweden (2018), Svensk Fågel (2018)
Chicken meat and products (including products that have been heat treated, ground and ready cooked) with a chicken content of at least 10%. A thorough market analysis of desried products should be made before every procurement process since the market for food products is in constant development. Examples of products covered by the criteria:
- Fresh and frozen chicken, whole or quartered, plain, seasoned or marinated
- Chicken nuggets
- Chicken meatballs
- Chicken schnitzel
- Chicken kebab
- Chicken mince
- Sausages and other processed meat products made of chicken
Use the criterion or criteria which best suits your organization’s needs, goals and capacity to monitor compliance. Indicate in the document specifically which products are to fulfil the requirement and be sure to inform yourself of market availability. It is also important to state how the tenderer should respond to the criteria and what evidence is to be provided.