Comparison of National and International Standards of Good Egg Production Practices

Egg production is an important economic activity in Brazil, with about 697 million eggs produced annually. The conventional cage system is commonly used for egg production. However, there has been a growing concern for the welfare of laying hens around the world. In this context, many countries have issued laws, protocols, and other normative technical specifications to ensure the welfare of layers. This study aims at identifying similarities and differences between international standards and Brazilian protocols using the Comparative Law perspective. This article reports an analytical study of selected protocols, performing three analyses using the Comparative Law method. The research concludes that some items of the Brazilian protocols of good egg production practices, such as farm inspection, treatment of diseases, temperature, ventilation, beak trimming, feed and water supply, correspond to international specifications, whereas others, such as housing, freedom movement, use of equipment, and transport, are less strict.

Keywords:
Egg production; animal welfare; Comparative Law; legislation

Authorship

GP Sousa

São Paulo State University, Campus Tupã, 780 Domingos da Costa Lopes St, Zip Code: 17602-496, Tupã, SP, Brazil.São Paulo State UniversityBrazilTupã, SP, BrazilSão Paulo State University, Campus Tupã, 780 Domingos da Costa Lopes St, Zip Code: 17602-496, Tupã, SP, Brazil.

DF Pereira

K Watanabe

PF Cataneo

Corresponding author e-mail address Gabriela Pinheiro de Sousa Rua Artur Belei nº 78 - Garça, SP, Brazil. Zip code: 17400-000 Tel: +55 14 99660-0160 Email:gabipinheiro_adv@hotmail.com

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Tables

Tables (2)

Thumbnail

Table 1
Requirements of national and international protocols.

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Table 2
Comparison of technical aspects stipulated in national and international protocols.

Table 1 Requirements of national and international protocols.

ITEM	EHS
ITEM	DEFRA	RSPCA	STANDARDS	ABPA	EMBRAPA
Staff Training	Mandatory	Mandatory	Recommended	Mandatory	Mandatory
Traceability	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory
Bird inspection	Mandatory	Mandatory	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory
Treatment of diseases	Mandatory	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory
Temperature and Ventilation	Mandatory	Mandatory	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory
Lighting limits	Mandatory	Mandatory	Not provided	Mandatory	Not provided
Availability of litter and nests	Mandatory	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided	Mandatory
Noise limits	Mandatory	Mandatory	Not provided	Recommended	Not provided
Shelter and freedom of movement	Mandatory	Mandatory	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided
Beak trimming	Mandatory	Mandatory	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory
Feeding and water supply	Mandatory	Mandatory	Recommended	Mandatory	Mandatory
Use and installation of equipment	Mandatory	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided	Mandatory
Egg collection and storage	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory
Bird transportation	Mandatory	Mandatory	Not provided	Not provided	Mandatory
Chick andpulletmanagement	Not provided	Not provided	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory
Waste collection and management	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory	Recommended	Mandatory
Biosecurity measures	Not provided	Mandatory	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory
Labor health and safety	Not provided	Not provided	Mandatory	Mandatory	Mandatory

Table 2 Comparison of technical aspects stipulated in national and international protocols.

ITEM	EHS
ITEM	DEFRA	RSPCA	STANDARDS	ABPA	EMBRAPA
Staff Training	All farm sectors	All farm sectors	Use of hazardous products	All farm sectors	Manipulation of organic fertilizers
Traceability	Feed, water, health, and animal behavior	Housing density, feed, water, house temperature and ventilation	Effluent emissions, resource utilization, food	Housing density, inputs, minimum and maximum temperatures in houses with automatic ventilation, all farm sectors	Feedstuffs and food additives
Bird inspection	1x daily	3x daily		1x daily	2x daily
Treatment of diseases	Poultry Health and Welfare Program		Biosecurity protocol, animal control, feed, equipment and personnel	Pest and disease control plan	Pest and disease control plan
Temperature and Ventilation	No direct exposure to sunlight	T 26ºC / RH 75%		T 15-27ºC / RH 40-65%	T 32ºC
Lighting limits	Light intensity: 5-10 lux	8 hours continuous light / 6 hours continuous darkness / light intensity: 20 lux		Uniform lighting throughout the house. Photoperiod according to the age and physiological status of the laying hens
Availability of litter and nests	Fresh, depth 10cm				Dry, depth 10cm
Noise limits	Minimum sound level	Minimum sound level		Minimum sound level
Shelter and freedom of movement	Place should enable the fulfillment of birds’ biological needs, provide shelter from adverse weather conditions, and facilitate good bird management	Facilities should be well maintained and a litter area to rest should be provided
Beak trimming	Trained staff	Chicks at 1 day of age / infrared equipment		Birds with 7-10 days / Blade temperature: 550-750ºC. Control feed intake	1^st beak trimming: 7-10 days of age / 2^ndbeak trimming: 10-12 weeks of age
Feed and water supply	Abundant water, supply nutritional requirements, sufficient access to feeders	Abundant water, supply nutritional requirements, sufficient access to feeders	Feed protection from rain and wind during manufacturing, storage, transport and feeding of birds	Abundant water, supply nutritional requirements, sufficient access to feeders	Abundant water, supply nutritional requirements, sufficient access to feeders
Use and installation of equipment	Regularly cleaning and inspection of equipment				Adequate technical information on all pieces of equipment
Egg collection and storage				If not automated, eggs should be collected 4x daily / eggs must be selected and classified, separated by weight, packaged and identified / storage in cool and clean room	If not automated, eggs should be collected 4x daily / eggs must be selected and classified, separated by weight, packaged and identified / storage in cool and clean room
Bird transportation	Crates with large openings	Adequate ventilation in shipping crates / trained staff			Fasting for 4 hours before loading / appropriate crates to prevent injuries
Chick and pullet management				Chicks purchased from and vaccinated in hatcheries licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture	Chicks purchased from and vaccinated in hatcheries licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture
Waste collection and management	Avoid exposure of birds to gases or discomfort	Dry waste kept covered and hygienically managed	Integrated Nutrition Plan Management: dry residue	Composting of solid waste	Waste composting and recycling
Biosecurity measures		Policy to prevent diseases		Daily records of mortality / staff disinfection / all-in, all-out system	Security fencing and isolation of the poultry house/ all-in, all-out system
Labor health and safety			Use of PPE / training falls / information on risks	Health and Safety program: use of PPE / accident prevention plan / manual of accidents and incidents	Use of PPE / isolated toilets

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Comparison of National and International Standards of Good Egg Production Practices

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[1] Corresponding author e-mail address Gabriela Pinheiro de Sousa Rua Artur Belei nº 78 - Garça, SP, Brazil. Zip code: 17400-000 Tel: +55 14 99660-0160 Email:gabipinheiro_adv@hotmail.com