ERPA’s News

February 2012 - General Meeting in Brussels

ERPA held on 1. February a meeting with several MEPs from the Parliament's Agriculture Committee, including Marc Tarabella Rapporteur of the Milk Package and Iratxe Garcia Perez, Rapporteur of the Quality Package, followed by a visit of the Parliament.
On 2. February, a round table at the General Assembly with Michael Erhart, Head of the Quality Policy in DG Agri, Andrea Gavinelli, Head of the Animal Welfare at DG Sanco and Véronique Schmit of Eurogroup for animals exchanges on "How to promote rural poultry production in Europe? Indication of farming methods, local and direct sales, support for small farms? "

August 2011

Brussels: ERPA met Jean-Francois Hulot, Head of the Organic Farming Unit in DG Agri and IFOAM Europe to explain the type of rearing "on floor" for organic pullets and laying hens.

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June 2010

Barcelona: During EXPO AVIGATION, ERPA attended the conference of Avialter.

Agnes Laszczyk, General Secretary made a presentation on the topic: "What role for rural poultry and quality in Europe in 2025?"

May 2010

London: ERPA attended the International Poultry Conference in London.

Agnes Laszczyk, General Secretary, had the opportunity to present the rural poultry production in Europe and in particular the example of French Label Rouge traditional free range poultry farming.

February 2010

ERPA's General Assembly at Roma

with the visit of an Italian rural poultryfarm.

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• Download the moral report of the President Mr. Oscar Berlanda

October 2009

ERPA's Executive Committee

There was many exchanges between members on national practices about the accreditation of poultry slaughterhouses and exemptions for small activities, but also on animal health regulations, registration of farms and monitoring plans. Professionals have found that these practices vary widely between countries and even regions and they should be better harmonized at a European level.

September 2009

Presentation of organic laying hens farming at the Advisory Committee of DG Agri.

ERPA presented a paper on September 22. as an expert Advisory Committee on Organic Farming in DG Agri, about housing conditions of organic laying hens. ERPA asks that the Regulation (EC) 2008/889 on organic production differentiates the two types of rearing laying hens in Europe using existing regional traditions: rearing on one floor (ground level) and rearing in multi-storey poultry houses. Both methods require special rules in respect of animal welfare and the principles of organic way of farming. Today, the rearing on ground floor is penalized by a density limit that is defined for each storey of multi-storey houses.

May 2009

Meeting with DG Sanco on the agreement of slaughterhouses and Salmonella controls regulation.

- Agreement of small slaughterhouses  : This meeting allowed the rural poultry producers to implement certain criteria of EC regulations for the agreement of slaughterhouses. There is indeed scope for flexibility under Article 10. 4), 5) and 6) for small establishments.
- Salmonella  : the rural poultry producers face difficulties in implementing certain provisions of the EC regulation on Salmonella. This needs to be adjusted or specified (definition of "small quantities", period of analysis before slaughter, terms of checks in small farms) for a harmonized and effective implementation in all Member States.