Response to interpellation 2023/24:194 on improved animal welfare in the Swedish chicken industry
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
KD considers that animals should be treated well and protected from suffering 1. KD argues that the government should strengthen EU's animal welfare legislation 1 and that Sweden has a strong animal welfare legislation 2. KD emphasizes that the individual animal keeper is responsible for ensuring that the legislation is followed 1. KD argues that dialogue with the industry is important 3. S considers that it is okay to treat animals in an ethically correct way 4. S argues that fast-growing hybrids risk causing health problems 5 and that it is possible to transition to slow-growing hybrids through financial support 5. S argues that animal welfare deficiencies risk damaging trust in Swedish food production. S argues that a functioning control activity is necessary. KD argues that trust in Swedish food production is important 6.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam Speaker! Sofia Skönnbrink has asked me what measures the government and I plan to take in light of the animal welfare deficiencies that have been highlighted in the Swedish chicken industry over the past year. Sofia Skönnbrink has further asked me if I see a need for a transition from fast-growing to more slow-growing chicken breeds in Sweden, and if not, how animal welfare deficiencies linked to hybrids such as Ross 308 in that case can be addressed. Furthermore, Sofia Skönnbrink has asked me in what way the government and I shall ensure that the monitoring of regulatory compliance in Swedish animal breeding and food production is improved.
Initially, I want to emphasize that it is distressing to see animals that suffer. Animals shall be treated well and protected from unnecessary suffering and disease. Sick or injured animals shall be cared for as soon as possible and be given care or be euthanized in an approved manner. Animal welfare control is an important task that the county administrative boards perform, and the government follows up on how the control is carried out and functions. However, it is always the individual animal owner who is responsible for ensuring that the legislation is followed and that measures are taken to rectify any deficiencies.
The breeding of broiler chickens is an international phenomenon, and the breeding selection is not made in Sweden. The majority of the world's broiler chicken breeding takes place in Europe, and therefore it is important for the government to strengthen the EU's animal welfare legislation to achieve a change at the EU level. In connection with the ongoing review, Sweden has, among other things, noted that the welfare for broiler chickens needs to be improved and that specific legislation is needed for breeding animals, which is currently lacking at the EU level. One of the measures that has been emphasized is the importance of considering both animal welfare and animal health during breeding so that there is not an overly one-sided focus on production characteristics such as growth.
It cannot be ruled out that further measures need to be considered from a political standpoint to meet the development we have seen and to secure animal welfare. I have recently initiated a dialogue with the relevant industry organization regarding how they view the situation and the way forward. This is not only about securing animal welfare but also about maintaining consumers' trust in Swedish animal husbandry and, in the long run, also Swedish food production.
Sofia Skönnbrink (S)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister for Rural Affairs, for the answer! Now it has been almost exactly one year since we in the program 200 seconds were shown very upsetting photos and video clips from a Swedish chicken farm. It concerned injured and sick birds that could no longer move normally because their bodies had become too heavy for them to carry.
Now we have once again, through Uppdrag granskning - The price of chicken, seen what intensive poultry farming risks bringing about. Many reacted very strongly to the parent animals' strict diet, which had resulted in feather pecking and cannibalism. To make matters worse, it turned out that the regulatory authority had on several occasions pointed out deficiencies regarding the company's slaughter methods, but that this had not been rectified.
Madam Speaker! For me, as a true animal lover, it is at least painful to witness this type of mistreatment of animals. Treating animals in this way is not okay in a country like Sweden, which has strong animal protection and is known for its good animal welfare. The animals deserve better, and our consumers should be able to trust that Swedish products are produced in an ethically correct way.
Madam Speaker! The situation of the slaughter chickens has been noted on several occasions. And the use of hybrids, such as Ross 308, has been questioned many times. Furthermore, major deficiencies have previously emerged regarding the transport of birds and routines in connection with slaughter. Broken wings and culling that has not been preceded by correct stunning have been seen. This has been observed by veterinarians and inspectors during their inspections.
But one thing that has not been talked about so much is precisely the situation of the breeding animals, which Uppdrag Granskning now chose to highlight.
Like their offspring, the parent birds have a very large appetite, and they have a great capacity for growth. But unlike the chickens, they are not to be slaughtered, but rather they must continue to live in order to be able to lay eggs. This entails that they must be kept on a very strict diet so that they, frankly, do not eat themselves to death.
The industry guarantees that no birds starve without being given a well-balanced feed adapted to their nutritional needs. But even if they do not starve, they are never completely satisfied, because they are bred to want to eat a very large amount of feed and to grow quickly. This risks, as stated, resulting in unwanted behaviors, such as feather pecking and, in the most extreme cases, cannibalism.
Madam Speaker! If we were to ask the consumers, I believe very few would answer that they think it is okay to treat the animals in this way and to pressure them so hard. At the same time, consumers have become accustomed to cheap chicken in the store. And I believe very few would want to pay more for food, especially now when we find ourselves in this difficult economic situation.
In order that we do not risk consumers choosing to opt out of Swedish products, the price must be kept at a reasonable level while we simultaneously strengthen animal welfare.
I have not really received an answer on how the government intends to work to strengthen welfare in Swedish chicken farming. The Minister refers to the ongoing review of the EU-wide animal welfare legislation. But we know that it was stopped, so I don't quite understand how that is going to help here and now.
Then the Minister for Rural Affairs mentions that he has held talks with the industry. But he has not given any concrete examples of what those talks have led to, i.e., which improvement proposals have been presented. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister for Rural Affairs again what measures the government intends to take to rectify the identified animal welfare deficiencies in Swedish chicken farming.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam Speaker! Just as the interpellor says, Sweden has strong animal welfare legislation with, in many cases, more detailed animal welfare requirements than the EU and especially individual member states have.
When it comes to slaughter chickens, we in Sweden have specific regulations even for the breeding animals, which are lacking within the EU. But there, it is important to remember where the breeding work primarily takes place. The EU is therefore the answer to many of these questions.
We know that this takes longer, but what would the consequence be if we did not care that more are to raise their animal welfare requirements? I do not believe that it would lead to more chickens getting it better. I believe that it would lead to an increase in imports. And we know that there are many countries - many third countries - that we import from today that have significantly worse standards than what we have in our Swedish breeding.
This is not a question that is simple – few questions are.
But it is extremely important that we ensure that the rules we have are followed. In Sweden, we also have, for example, rules regarding beak trimming - it is not any beak trimming. One does not remove the comb on the rooster. This places even higher demands on how one keeps, above all, the parent animals, because there is an increased risk. This requires even more supervision and even better control, because we fundamentally have these rules.
The industry is aware of this, and generally speaking, a good job is being done. There will always be problems - I am completely convinced of that - because it is people who ultimately bear the responsibility. But we shall try to minimize them as much as possible.
Yes, I have met with the industry. One is aware of this. I have also met with the company in question, which immediately took measures. They have replaced the management, and they are carrying out several different things which will, of course, be followed up in dialogues.
I do not doubt for a second the member's commitment to these issues - just as little as I doubt the government's commitment to these issues. It is extremely important that we continue to work actively, as the previous government also did, at the EU level to make a real difference.
Sofia Skönnbrink (S)
Madam Speaker! Yes, we are in full agreement that it is very important that other EU countries catch up with Sweden regarding animal welfare legislation. What worries me is that this seems to be being dragged out. The proposals for new legislation that were to be presented were indeed stopped. That is precisely why I wanted to know more here and now about what measures the government plans to take to rectify the deficiencies we have seen here in Sweden during the past year. But the review in the EU is, of course, very important. On that, we are in complete agreement.
When I and the Minister for Rural Affairs last discussed this issue, we spoke a lot about the Swedish animal welfare inspection and about how the follow-up of the legislation could be improved. But another question that I believe we need to ask ourselves is whether fast-growing hybrids, such as Ross 308, are truly compatible with our new modern animal welfare act that was adopted in 2019.
Madam Speaker! Many of the animal welfare deficiencies that have been highlighted within the Swedish chicken industry recently are actually largely linked to the fast-growing hybrid that has been chosen to be used. Ross 308 is a bird that is to reach its final slaughter weight in only five weeks. It is a very rapid growth rate that risks causing a number of health problems, such as joint problems and, in the worst case, organ failure and sudden cardiac arrest.
As I mentioned earlier, these birds are bred to have a large appetite and grow quickly. This is to increase efficiency, which leads to lower production costs and prices in stores. But then the question is whether it is really right to let rapid growth take precedence over the animals' welfare. If you ask me, I can say that I do not think so.
Madam Speaker! Pleasantly enough, there is another way to go. Our neighboring country Norway, among others, has shown this. There, the largest producer of chicken, Norsk Kylling, has shifted its entire production. They have replaced the fast-growing breed Ross 308 with a slower-growing hybrid named Hubbard. Hubbard has a somewhat slower growth period and delivers approximately two weeks longer than Ross 308.
This reduces the strain on joints and organs, which has been shown to lead to healthier chicks that can move naturally all the way until the day of slaughter.
Even though these chickens have access to food all day and live longer, Norsk Kylling argues that production costs have not increased because more birds survive all the way until slaughter. In other words, the waste is reduced.
Madam Speaker! In Sweden, these slow-growing hybrids account for only 1 percent of the chickens. This can be compared to Norway, where they account for 30 percent.
The Minister for Rural Affairs has mentioned that the review of the EU-wide animal welfare legislation plays a key role in this issue because the majority of breeding takes place in Europe.
On the other hand, there is nothing that says Sweden cannot take the lead. We have done so in several respects previously. For example, the government recently came forward with a proposal to allocate 180 million kronor for the voluntary decommissioning of Swedish mink farms. With this in mind, it may not be unthinkable to try to find a similar solution for chicken farming, i.e., that one provides financial support to those who want to try converting their production and raising more slow-growing chicken hybrids.
My next question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is therefore whether he sees a need for a transition from fast-growing to more slow-growing hybrids in Sweden. And if he does not, what other solutions does the government see to address animal welfare deficiencies linked to fast-growing hybrids such as Ross 308?
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam Speaker! It is important that a review of the EU legislation in this area is carried out fully. I have stated this previously in the chamber. And we will continue to push for this as hard as we can towards the Commission.
But one does not exclude the other. National measures may also need to be considered. As I mentioned, a dialogue has been initiated with the industry regarding the situation and the way forward. And I have, as I said, also visited a company that operates in the breeding industry.
As in all difficult and sometimes very unpleasant issues, it is the case that when one begins to dig, a greater breadth of complexity opens up.
We also know that it depends a lot on the animal husbandry how the animal welfare is, even among these breeding animals. We breed for many of the characteristics that the member mentions - stronger bones and organs that last throughout life - and in breeding work, internationally speaking, have reduced mortality and reduced different types of injuries.
I am not saying that one or the other is right or should always prevail. But to complicate the whole thing, there are also problems with that type of chicken that grows more slowly, and it is about two weeks. For example, I received information not so long ago that the use of antibiotics is significantly higher among them. There are problems that need to be addressed there as well.
And one will never ever get away from the fact that the most important thing for animal welfare is that we have animal owners and animal keepers who carry out their mission and every day ensure, and probably several times every day, that their animals are doing well and that they follow the legislation that we have.
We are therefore excluding nothing. But we also have nothing new on the table. I think it is reasonable to have a dialogue with those who work within the industry and to try to get as broad and clear a picture as possible before making any decisions. And that is what the government will do.
Sofia Skönnbrink (S)
Madam Speaker! I thank the Minister for this answer. I then look forward to hearing more about what these talks with the industry and the government's deliberations result in. Until then, we shall have to make do with this.
I have said it before, and I will say it again, namely that this type of animal welfare deficiencies and scandals risk damaging the trust for Swedish food production and animal husbandry. It is a very hard blow to all those operators who daily do their utmost to take care of their animals in the best way and who deliver food to consumers that lives up to their expectations.
That is why, just as the Minister for Rural Affairs says, it is so incredibly important to have good control over one's operations, that the animals are doing well, and that one detects and rectifies deficient animal husbandry in time before it becomes an all too serious situation. Here, the operator obviously bears the ultimate responsibility.
But even the County Administrative Board's animal welfare inspection is an important tool. Without a functioning inspection activity, we cannot guarantee compliance with the Swedish Animal Welfare Act. Therefore, I become very frustrated when it emerges that several of these breeding facilities, which were featured in the report in Uppdrag granskning, have not had a visit from the inspection authority for over ten years. For example, a facility with over 20,000 animals was mentioned that had not been subject to an animal welfare inspection since 2012. And we cannot have it this way.
Madam Speaker! My final question to the Minister for Rural Affairs is therefore how the government intends to act to ensure that the number of animal welfare inspections in Sweden increases.
Landsbygdsministern Peter Kullgren (KD)
Madam Speaker! During a year I have been Minister for Rural Affairs, I have been alerted to several cases where a long time has passed between inspections. Sometimes it has been a question of operations without any problems at all, because they have been operations that have behaved themselves. In other cases, it has been possible to state that there have been deficiencies.
I am happy to accept criticism for the last twelve months. But unfortunately, I cannot be held responsible for what has happened during the last ten twelve years.
As said: Both I and the member have a great heart for the animals and for Swedish food production. The animals shall be well-off, and we shall have a great confidence in the Swedish food production so that as many as possible want to choose Swedish-produced food on their plates. Regardless of whether it is animal-based or not, it is an aspiration that I believe we both have.
The Government is working hard towards the EU Commission to ensure that the plans for an update of the EU's animal welfare legislation in this area are completed. And we do not rule out that we will submit other proposals at the national level if we see that deficiencies are not addressed in a correct manner.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.