Free range conditions, access, poultry - AT Bio Austria General Standard 2006

Plakolm, Gerhard and Fromm, Elisabeth (2006) Free range conditions, access, poultry - AT Bio Austria General Standard 2006. [Organic rules - Differences between other regulations/standards and EEC No 2092/91]

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Summary

Outdoor access areas for laying hens must be within a radius of 150 m of the poultry barn. This regulation applies to all barns built since 23 April, 2001. (BA-Rules 2006 chapter 3.13.2)

Difference

The Bio Austria General Standard is more detailed than the EU Regulation 2092/91, which defines the amount of the area but not the shape of the outdoor access. The shape is very important for adequate use of the outdoor access.

Justification

Principle of animal welfare and health; protection of the environment, commitment to consumer expectations Studies performed in different European countries have shown that laying hens mainly use the area the immediately around the hen house. Areas beyond 150m are hardly used at all. As hens do not distribute themselves evenly throughout the hen run more distant areas would mean an increase of stocking density. This would lead in the remaining part to an increase of nutrients and increase the risk of infections.

EU Regulation

Annex VIII. Minimum livestock surface areas indoor and outdoors
Annex I. Principles of organic production and processing > B.Livestock and livestock products - Annex I B > Housing and free-range conditions - Annex I B8, see also Annex VIII

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