Russia: Environmentalists call for a revision of poultry welfare standards

Voice of Animals, a Russian NGO, has prepared amendments to the draft veterinary regulation in the poultry industry, which is scheduled to come into force on 1 August 2025. The environmentalists propose a radical change in the long-neglected animal welfare standards, which currently allow for practices that many consider inhumane. The “barbaric methods” of slaughtering day-old chicks, through suffocation or freezing in plastic bags are proposed to be banned. Voice of Animals also seeks to increase the minimum allowable height of the cages and expand the living area. They explain that this step is necessary for laying hens to meet their behavioural needs and lower the risk of pecking. Banning free-range farming – a fierce debate One of the most controversial proposals is expanding walking opportunities for birds, which includes installing ramps to facilitate access to the walking area. Under the original version of the veterinary regulation, the Russian Agricultural Ministry ...