The alert emerged a few weeks prior, targeting farmers who raise poultry, pigs, and rabbits in particular. After reviewing a draft standard drafted by the European Commission for a new meat production model, the COAG council representing Farmers and Livestock Organizations warned that adopting some measures could push chicken meat prices higher. They warned that prices might triple. The industry platform notes that chicken currently sells for about 3.25 euros per kilogram, and with the proposed rules in place, the price could rise to roughly 9.75 euros per kilogram. Such a spike would come as inflation pressures remain strong, adding another burden to consumers.
At the moment, Brussels has not issued formal statements, though voices from the field are already speaking up. Officials have denied or at least downplayed the severity of the crisis feared by Spanish producers. Informal sources say drafts exist and negotiations are ongoing, but no official documents or positions have been published. Progress appears paused as the potential impact requires careful assessment. Observers frame the effort as part of a broader strategy called the farm-to-fork initiative. In short, resources continue to be allocated, but the immediate costs remain uncertain because farm-level precautions and operational changes have not been fully defined.
Industry leaders acknowledge talk of tightened conditions for livestock farming, recognizing the worry in an sector made up of many small to mid-sized firms. Jordi Armengol, head of Livestock at the Union of Farmers, notes that while the threat is real, producers have shown resilience and adaptation over time. He highlights how the sector has transformed in the past decade and argues that current production patterns differ markedly from those ten years ago. For now, farm owners say that discussions have been postponed and that further strain on domestic economies and consumers is not desirable.
Free-range chickens and price dynamics
The debate centers on a study by COAG assessing the socioeconomic impact of EU regulatory changes and their potential effect on food inflation due to higher costs for livestock farmers. The study suggests that meeting new standards could impose almost one million euros of additional costs on mid-sized farms. That burden could force the closure of a large share of poultry facilities and could impact most rabbit operations as well. The implication is clear: rising compliance costs could ripple through the supply chain, shaping what farmers can produce and at what price they can offer it to buyers.
One proposed EU measure would cut broiler population density to a maximum of 11 kilograms per square meter. If adopted, the federation notes, traditional poultry producers would need to adjust practices accordingly. Farms would face substantial investments to modernize facilities, and the number of birds housed would fall dramatically—by as much as seventy-two percent in some cases. A standard farm occupying 1,800 square meters could see its capacity drop from about 33,000 birds to roughly 11,000 birds. With reduced output comes pressure on revenue, and the resulting income squeeze could be felt by farmers while consumers would face higher prices at the market. The shift might delay the benefit or broaden the gap between conventional and alternative production models like free-range poultry.
Industry voices emphasize that animal welfare can be supported without triggering such drastic changes in density. Existing structures are already equipped with heating, cooling, and ventilation designed to maintain comfortable conditions. Yet, lowering farming density does not automatically ensure better control of temperature and air quality. In some cases, it can complicate the maintenance of optimal environmental conditions and increase costs for farmers, a concern raised by Eloy Ureña, head of COAG’s poultry sector, in a conversation with Europa Press. The core message remains that any reform must balance welfare goals with practical, economically sustainable farming methods.
As the discussion unfolds, observers in North American markets watch closely. They consider how rules designed to tighten livestock farming could influence global supply chains and consumer prices, particularly in regions importing poultry products from Europe. The ongoing dialogue underscores a broader question about how best to align animal welfare standards with market realities, ensuring that improvements in welfare do not translate into prohibitive costs for farmers or unexpected price spikes for shoppers.