Poultry production

In order to facilitate trade, there are marketing standards for poultrymeat. They are intended to make the market more transparent. They shall apply to certain categories of poultrymeat from chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowl. Within the EU, this poultry meat may only be marketed which complies with these standards and has not undergone any treatment other than refrigeration.

Auditors from the Market Surveillance Department check the quality of poultry meat and compliance with the minimum conditions of poultry producers authorised to use information on the farming method (e.g. free-range farming, free-range farming, extensive barn husbandry). Checks shall also be carried out at all levels of trade, except in the food retail sector, on the correct labelling of poultrymeat (fresh, frozen, quick-frozen), poultry cuts, prepackaged poultry meat and non-prepackages. In the case of frozen or quick-frozen chickens, the water content shall also be tested, which must not exceed a certain technically unavoidable value.

Violations of the applicable legislation will be punishable by warnings or fines. Where appropriate, consideration shall also be given to withdrawing the registration of the holding for the production of poultry from special farming arrangements.