EU Poultry Standards Ensure Quality and Safety, Lithuanian Association Says

Lithuanian poultry farmers operate under some of the most stringent food safety, animal welfare, and veterinary control regulations globally, according to Gytis Kauzonas, head of the Lithuanian Poultry Association. These rigorous EU standards ensure continuous control at every stage, from raising birds to market delivery, guaranteeing full traceability and fostering consumer trust.

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All EU poultry farms are subject to some of the world's strictest food safety, animal welfare, and veterinary control requirements. This means that at every stage – from raising birds to delivering products to stores – continuous control is carried out and full traceability is ensured.

Kauzonas highlights that these EU requirements differ significantly from those in other parts of the world. While all imported poultry must meet EU food safety standards, the cultivation practices in their countries of origin can vary widely. Some countries still permit the use of growth stimulants or specific pesticides banned within the EU. This disparity means consumers cannot always be certain about the conditions under which imported poultry was produced.

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The EU's veterinary requirements are significantly stricter than in many other regions of the world. For example, some third countries still allow the use of growth stimulants or certain pesticides, the use of which is banned in the EU. That is precisely why EU consumers can be sure that their food is subject to some of the highest safety and quality standards in the world.

The emphasis on "raised without antibiotics" signifies more than just a label; it represents an additional standard achieved through exceptionally high biosecurity, strict hygiene, constant health monitoring, and quality living conditions. This approach prioritizes disease prevention over treatment, requiring modern technology, robust biosecurity, meticulous care, and substantial investment at every stage of production.

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This labeling means that throughout the entire growing period, antibiotics were not administered to the birds. This is an additional standard that can only be achieved by ensuring extremely high biosecurity, strict hygiene, constant monitoring of bird health, and quality living conditions.