UK Supermarket Welfare Policies for Broiler Chickens

Better Chicken Commitment
In September 2017, Compassion joined forces with a group of European NGOs calling on companies to sign up to the Better Chicken Commitment to make significant welfare improvements in the rearing and slaughter of broiler chickens by 2026. We are asking companies to give chickens reared for meat a better quality of life by adhering to the science-based criteria of the BCC.

To date, over 380 European companies have joined the Better Chicken Commitment.

Find out below which UK supermarkets have signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment and what their welfare policies are for broiler chickens.

Overview of standards

Standard chicken

EU production:

• Chickens can be stocked up to 42kg/m², severely restricting their movement.
• Fast-growing birds are used which can suffer difficulty walking, have a poor immune system, cardiac disease and be lethargic.
• Enrichment is not a requirement, and birds are kept in sheds on litter, without natural light.
• Irreversible Controlled Atmosphere Stunning (CAS) is not required[1].
  
  

UK production:

• UK legislation is in line with EU standards except stocked up to 39kg/m².
  
  

Certification schemes for indoor birds

Red Tractor certified standards

• Chickens can be stocked up to 38kg/m².
• Fast growing birds are used, which can suffer difficulty walking, have a poor immune system, cardiac disease and be lethargic.
• Enrichment and natural light is required.
• Electrical water bath stunning is permitted.
  
  

Red Tractor Enhanced Welfare:

• Stocked at not more than 30kg/m² to allow birds room to move around the shed.
• Slower growing birds are mandatory to improve broilers’ health and welfare.
• Natural light and enrichment required.
• Only irreversible CAS is allowed for slaughter. For CAS processing, live birds cannot be shackled.
  
  

RSPCA Assured Indoor:

• Stocked at not more than 30kg/m² to allow birds room to move around the shed.
• Slower growing birds are mandatory to improve broilers’ health and welfare.
• Natural light and enrichment required.
• Only irreversible CAS is allowed for slaughter. For CAS processing, live birds cannot be shackled.

Certification schemes for free-range birds 

Red Tractor Free Range:

• Stocking density up to 27.5kg/m²
• Slower growing birds are mandatory to improve broilers’ health and welfare.
• Enrichment required in the shed and access to the outdoors during the day.
• Electrical water bath stunning is permitted.

RSPCA Assured Free Range:

• Stocking density up to 27.5kg/m²
• Slower growing birds are mandatory to improve broilers’ health and welfare.
• Enrichment required in the shed and access to the outdoors during the day.
• Only irreversible CAS is allowed for slaughter. For CAS processing, live birds cannot be shackled.

Organic UK (including Soil Association and Organic Farmers and Growers)

• Stocking densities from 21kg/m² to 30kg/m²
• Enrichment required in the shed and access to the outdoors during the day.
• Slower growing birds are mandatory to improve broilers’ health and welfare.
• Electrical water bath stunning is permitted.

[1] EU broiler directive (2007/43/EC)