Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the impact of genetic selection on the welfare of chickens kept for meat production

Article 6(1) of Directive (EC) 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production states that:
"Based on a scientific opinion of the European Food safety Authority, the Commission shall no later than 31 December 2010 submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report concerning the influence of genetic parameters on identified deficiencies resulting in poor welfare of chickens. That report may be accompanied by appropriate legislative proposals, if necessary."

This report is the Commission's response to this obligation. To prepare this report, in 2010 the Commission requested a scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which was updated in 2012 and mandated an economic study, completed in 2013. The unexpected additional time needed to obtain comprehensive scientific and economic data explains the delay in adopting this report.