EU poultry sector urges fair trade, simplification, and support for the next generation

AVEC, the Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU, concluded its 67th General Assembly last week hosted by the Danish Agriculture and Food Council in Copenhagen. Against the backdrop of renewed controversy over the EU-Mercosur deal, this year’s conference, themed “Competitiveness in a Changing World,” focused on Europe’s agri-food resilience and the role of the European poultry sector in achieving sustainable growth and securing food for the future.

Europe’s quiet success story

“Our sector, is one of Europe’s quiet success stories: efficient, sustainable, and truly circular. We deliver a high-quality protein with the lowest carbon footprint among meats, using every part of the bird in food, pharmaceuticals, pet nutrition, fertilisers and energy,” said AVEC’s President, Gert-Jan Oplaat. “That makes poultry indispensable to Europe’s food security.”

Poultry imports

Despite these strengths, the sector faces growing pressure. Poultry imports from 3rd countries such as Brazil, China and Ukraine continue to rise, often produced under conditions that would never be authorised in the EU – “25% of poultry breast meat consumed in the EU now comes from third countries,” states Oplaat.

Without young farmers there is no future

At the same time, farmers and processors are burdened by ever more complex regulations that deepen our competitiveness gap while EU “gold-plating” creates new costs and distortions inside the Single Market, and agriculture itself faces a demographic cliff edge: “Only 6.5% of EU farmers are under the age of 35, and just 11.9% under 40,” said  Sébastien Pérel of CEJA, reminding that “without young farmers there is no future for agriculture at all.”

Mercosur deal concerns

Recent developments on the Mercosur agreement crystallise these concerns. AVEC, alongside a wide coalition of agri-food organisations, has warned last week that the deal still fails to respect Europe’s sustainability model and threatens to expose EU producers to unfair competition (joint statement). “Our standards, our sustainability efforts, and the trust of EU consumers must not be traded away,” Oplaat stressed. “The Council and the European Parliament should reject this proposal and defend European agriculture.”

Foundation for stronger cooperation

Looking to the future, the EU’s new Vision for Agriculture and Food places competitiveness, food security and fair trade at the core of its agenda – a shift that mirrors AVEC’s own priorities. This alignment was a key takeaway in Copenhagen. “We (referring to the EU poultry sector and the Commission) are much more aligned than we used to be,” confirmed Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle, Director at the European Commission’s DG AGRI. AVEC sees this as the foundation for stronger cooperation in the years ahead. “The more we engage in evidence-based dialogue and partnership, the better we can deliver sustainable competitiveness for Europe’s citizens, its farmers and its environment,” said AVEC’s Secretary General, Birthe Steenberg.

Competitiveness study

To underpin this new strategic direction towards competitiveness with facts, AVEC announced that it will release a new Competitiveness Study in early 2026. Building on 2024 cost data, it will quantify the impact of EU legislation, assess competitiveness against non-EU producers, and model trade policy scenarios. “The new study aims to provide the evidence policymakers need to ensure Europe’s high standards remain an asset, not a handicap,” added Steenberg.

Level playing field for farmers

AVEC’s message to policymakers from Copenhagen is clear and urgent: simplify rules by cutting unnecessary red tape, protect EU producers from unfair competition through reciprocity at the border, and support investments in innovation and generational renewal. “We can and want to remain competitive,” Oplaat concluded, “but we need Europe to stand with us. Without reciprocity in trade and a level playing field at home, Europe risks outsourcing its own food security.”