The Policy
The Better Chicken Commitment is the leading set of standards for broiler welfare driving the food industry towards higher welfare practices.
The exact standards of the UK Better Chicken Commitment policy are outlined below.
By 2026*, we will require our suppliers to meet the following requirements for 100% of the [fresh, frozen, and processed] chicken in our supply chain:
- Comply with all EU animal welfare laws and regulations, regardless of the country of production.
- Implement a maximum stocking density of 30kg/m2 or less. Thinning is discouraged and if practiced must be limited to one thin per flock.
- Adopt breeds that demonstrate higher welfare outcomes: either the following breeds, Hubbard Redbro (indoor only), Norfolk Black, JACY57, JA757, 787, 957, or 987, Rambler Ranger, Ranger Classic, Rustic Gold (indoor only), and Ranger Gold, or others that meet the criteria of the RSPCA Broiler Breed Welfare Assessment Protocol.
- Meet improved environmental standards including:
- At least 50 lux of light, including natural light.
- At least two metres of usable perch space, and two pecking substrates, per 1,000 birds.
- On air quality, the maximum requirements of Annex 2.3 of the EU broiler directive, regardless of stocking density.
- No cages or multi-tier systems.
- Adopt controlled atmospheric stunning using inert gas or multi-phase systems, or effective electrical stunning without live inversion.
- Demonstrate compliance with the above standards via third-party auditing and annual public reporting on progress towards this commitment.
*For companies committing after December 31, 2023, a longer timeline may be set, provided the timeline is in agreement with an NGO signatory of the ECC, has progress milestones, and a public deadline for 100% compliance.
Translations of the Better Chicken Commitment policy are available below: