This report examines the progress of the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) across different countries and sectors in Europe. It outlines the corporations that have committed to the ECC and those that are reporting progress, high-level trends and impacts of the ECC, case studies, and guidance for companies seeking to meet ECC requirements.

Read the report here

WHY BROILER COMMITMENTS?

A STEP TOWARD BETTER CHICKEN WELFARE

“Broiler” chickens, or chickens raised for meat, are some of the most abused animals on the planet. Selectively bred to grow unnaturally large in a very short amount of time, the most common fast-growing breeds suffer poor leg health, painful health conditions, and even inability to walk.

WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN CHICKEN COMMITMENT (ECC)?

The European Chicken Commitment is a science-based, six-point chicken welfare policy that addresses issues related to breeding for fast growth and high yield, housing, stocking density, and slaughter. This policy directly reduces the most prominent forms of suffering associated with intensive farming of chickens raised for meat.

The ECC came on the heels of the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) in the United States, a growing industry standard that has been adopted by over 215 food companies since its development in 2016. There are now over 600 broiler commitments around the world.

ECC STANDARDS & REQUIREMENTS

The European Chicken Commitment addresses the major welfare concerns that broiler chickens face every day on factory farms: fast growth breeding, lack of enrichment, stocking density, and slaughter—and enforces compliance with third-party auditing and EU animal welfare laws and regulations.

PROGRESS FOR CHICKENS IN EUROPE

In response to rising demand, dozens of major companies across Europe have made BCC/ECC commitments. Broiler chicken production in the EU increased by 20% from 2012 to 2022, and it now represents about 6.1 billion birds every year. Intensive broiler systems account for the vast majority (around 90%) of EU broiler production, making corporate broiler commitments all the more essential—and urgent.

378

companies committed to the ECC

*as of June 2024

1.1 billion chickens

covered by corporate ECC commitments

230+ million chickens

already being impacted on the ground

3/3

of Europe’s biggest broiler producers have taken up ECC production at scale

13/13

of the biggest companies committed are reporting progress