Interview by EFEAGRO with the secretary general of the Spanish poultry meat interprofessional organisation (Avianza), Jordi Montfort, in which he also reviews the opportunities offered by China’s opening to trade
30 July 2025 – The free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur is a “considerable” threat to the quality standards that characterise European poultry meat production, and for this reason the sector is counting on “mirror clauses” ultimately being enforced.
This is asserted in an interview with Efeagro by the secretary general of the poultry meat interprofessional organisation (Avianza), Jordi Montfort, in which he reviews the opportunities offered by China’s opening to trade and analyses EU policy and its impact on the sector.
Question: How will the Mercosur-EU agreement affect the broiler sector?
Answer: It represents a considerable threat to the high quality and sustainability standards that characterise European production. For example, according to the latest reports from the EU Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG Santé), Brazil faces serious difficulties in complying with European health regulations, raising concerns about the safety of imports.
Q: Would the imposition of mirror clauses be a solution?
A: Mercosur producers operate under far less stringent regulations, which allows them to offer lower prices, creating unfair competition that jeopardises the sustainability and viability of the Spanish sector. For this reason, we expect mirror clauses to indeed be enforced.
Q: What recent progress has been made in foreign trade?
A: We have had very good news on the internationalisation front, as one of the major milestones has been the opening of the Chinese market to Spanish poultry meat, the result of collaboration between the Government, the private sector and other entities. We have already signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the China Meat Association, which lays the groundwork for imminent bilateral cooperation. We have also undertaken a prospecting mission to China to strengthen trade ties.
Q: And beyond China?
A: The recognition of Spain’s poultry inspection and certification system by the Philippines Department of Agriculture has just entered into force, representing a strategic milestone. In addition, Avianza is preparing a prospecting mission to the Philippines in the coming months.
European regulations
Q: How does the European regulation on animal welfare during transport affect you?
A: We have expressed our deep concern because, if implemented, it will require an immediate investment of 361 million euros, in addition to a further 125 million euros annually, reaching a total of 860 million euros over this legislative term. Although these rules aim to improve animal welfare, they are unworkable and of limited effectiveness, as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) itself indicates that lower stocking densities actually increase the likelihood of bruising and fractures in birds.
Q: What will be the consequences of this cost increase?
A: These additional costs would translate into a significant increase in the production price of chicken for Spanish consumers, particularly affecting the most vulnerable. It is surprising that these regulations may achieve precisely the opposite of their intended effect.
Q: What is your view of the new guidelines that the new European Commission (EC) appears to want to implement, moving further away from the Green Deal?
A: We have high hopes that our needs will be heard, and we are watching closely. They are currently engaged, for example, in the process of revising the European regulation on the transport of live animals. On our part, together with Anprogapor (pig sector) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, we are showcasing the sector’s advances in professionalisation, innovation and concrete animal welfare measures ahead of the decisive processing of amendments to that new regulation.
Domestic consumption
Q: Why do you think household consumption of poultry meat in Spain has risen by 7% over the past year?
A: Chicken meat consumption remains strong, as it is an affordable and healthy option. The poultry meat market in Spain has shown stable performance and has maintained its position as one of Europe’s leading chicken meat producers, although it is conditioned by external factors such as inflation and the cost of raw materials.
Q: The latest CPI figures show that this meat has increased in price by almost 3% over the past year. What is your assessment?
A: Inflation is not unfamiliar to the sector, as all the service costs we rely on have increased, as have those of raw materials and energy, which have had a significant impact. In this context, the sector’s ability to adapt to inflation and new regulatory requirements while maintaining its competitiveness will be key to determining the pricing trend throughout the year.
Q: What are companies doing to minimise the impact of inflation?
A: They are implementing strategies such as optimising production processes, investing in more energy-efficient technology and seeking long-term agreements with suppliers.
Source:
-. EFEAGRO