No beak trimming - chickens, turkeys and hens
Level: Core
Beak trimming involves changing part of the beak to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. Feather pecking and cannibalism occur to a lesser extent in a good stable environment in which stress is alleviated. Hence not permitting beak trimming is a relevant animal welfare criterion.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10420:2
- Group:
- Chicken
Criterion text
Chicken and hen raw material shall come from animals whose beaks have not been changed during rearing by means of beak trimming, for example. This also applies to the parental generation.
Turkey raw material shall come from animals whose beaks have not been changed during rearing by means of beak trimming, for example.
Verification
The supplier shall be able to provide one of the following on request, for example:
- Valid licence/certificate for the following label/certification or equivalent certification
- Svensk Fågel
- Veterinary report by the official veterinarian at the slaughterhouse.
Proposed follow-up
It may be appropriate to prioritise the monitoring of raw material from chickens, turkeys and hens where beak trimming, in accordance with the requirement, is not already regulated in national legislation. Regulations in the legislation are in place in Sweden and Finland, for example.
This requirement can be followed up by carrying out a spot check. This can be done, for example, by checking one of the following:
Certification
If the requirement has been verified by means of a certification, follow-up is possible by checking that there is a valid certificate for the product. This is checked on the website of the relevant labelling organisation, such as Svensk Fågel.
Veterinary report
If the requirement is verified by a veterinary report from an official veterinarian, follow up by ensuring that the documentation shows that chickens, hens and turkeys have not had their beaks trimmed. Also check that the parental generation of hens and chickens have not had their beaks trimmed.
Information about the criterion
Instructions from the Swedish Board of Agriculture regarding obligations of animal keepers and personnel within animal healthcare (SJVFS 2017:22) lists permitted surgical measures. Beak trimming is not mentioned on the list and is hence not allowed.
Motive
Beak trimming involves amputating part of the beak to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism. This amputation causes suffering for the animal as the beak contains nerves (More information can be found in Swedish Board of Agriculture document Mervärden i svensk kycklingproduktion [Added value in Swedish chicken production].). Beak trimming also affects behaviour as the beak is used to feel for edible items.
Beak trimming occurs at some production facilities, but only in the parent birds of the chickens being reared. Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production, Annex I, Section 12, allows for surgical interventions such as beak trimming and castration.
Beak trimming has been banned in Sweden for a long time and is not practised in Finland, for example. Animal welfare measures such as access to bedding and activity, optimal lighting, feed composition and bedding management can reduce the risk of feather pecking and cannibalism among animals.
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 10420:2
- Version date
- 2023-04-18
2023-04-18, Krav ID 10420:2:The scope now also includes hens. Rephrased the requirement concerning turkeys. 2018-10-01, Krav ID: 10420:1: Added: Includes turkey, "Products of...". Complementary verifikation: Information of origin, monitoring suggestions.