European standards for poultry welfare: what will change for the Ukrainian poultry industry starting in 2026
29 January 17:20
ЕКСКЛЮЗИВ
On January 1, 2026, updated welfare requirements for farm poultry, harmonized with European Union standards, came into effect in Ukraine. These rules pertain to the housing of broilers and laying hens and were established by Order No. 224 of the Ministry of Economy back in 2021. Serhiy Karpenko, executive director of the Ukrainian Poultry Farmers Association, reported this in a comment to "Komersant Ukrainian" .
The new standards implement EU Directives 1999/74/EC and 2007/43/EC and are part of Ukraine’s obligations under the Association Agreement with the European Union. However, industry representatives warn that their full implementation without financial support could have serious economic consequences.
What are the new requirements?
European regulations stipulate stricter standards for poultry housing, particularly regarding space, cage design, lighting conditions, and access to feed and water. According to Serhiy Karpenko, executive director of the “Union of Poultry Farmers of Ukraine,” currently about 70% of the cage equipment used in Ukraine does not meet these requirements.
The key problem is that such equipment cannot be partially modernized. It must be completely dismantled and replaced, which requires significant investment.
How much will this cost the industry?
According to the association’s preliminary estimates, for egg-laying poultry farms alone, the required investment amounts to at least 13 billion UAH, and this is solely for retrofitting poultry houses based on last year’s production levels.
At the same time, as Karpenko points out, these costs do not include:
- poultry rearing areas,
- slaughter and sorting facilities,
- warehousing and logistics infrastructure,
- feed-mixing equipment,
- waste disposal and transportation systems.
No government financial support programs for implementing the new standards are currently planned.
How this may affect prices and production
The transition to European standards, according to industry estimates, will inevitably increase production costs. European studies cited by poultry farmers show that
- keeping birds in enriched cages increases the cost of eggs by 26%,
- alternative systems —by 38%.
This, in turn, could lead to price increases for consumers of up to 30%.
Who Will Be Hit Hardest
The greatest risks, according to Karpenko, concern small and medium-sized producers focused on the domestic market. Without access to loans or grants, they may not be able to withstand the financial burden.
Among the possible consequences, the industry cites:
- a 30–40% reduction in production,
- loss of competitiveness in global markets,
- a decline in poultry productexports.
War as an Additional Risk Factor
The implementation of new standards is taking place against the backdrop of a full-scale war, high security risks, and a labor shortage. Over the past four years, adaptation to EU standards has been slow and has been driven primarily by large integrated producers focused on exports to the EU.
The industry believes that a large-scale and rapid transition is possible only after the end of hostilities, provided there are financial programs for retrofitting and fuller trade liberalization with the European Union.
