After years of passionate debate and waiting, 18 February 2025 will be recorded in the annals of the French broiler industry as the day transparency prevailed. The long-awaited decree by chicken, duck, turkey and other poultry farmers, making the indication of origin mandatory for all meats in food service, has finally become a reality. This is a victory not only for French poultry meat producers, but also for French consumers and for other European poultry farmers (as it opens the door for other countries to potentially adopt the same measure in the future).
A timeline of the fight for transparency
Allow me to recall the journey taken. Because this victory did not fall from the sky. It is the fruit of hard work and constant mobilisation by an entire industry.
- 2002: A first breakthrough. Origin labelling becomes mandatory for the first time, but only for beef. A first step, certainly, but insufficient for broiler farmers.
- 1 March 2022 – 29 February 2024: Origin labelling of meats becomes temporarily mandatory, including poultry meat. During this “trial period”, consumers overwhelmingly validated this common-sense measure.
- 18 February 2025: Prime Minister François Bayrou signs the historic decree. The obligation to indicate origin is extended to pork, lamb and, most importantly, poultry meats, on a permanent basis in all restaurants.
A giant leap in Transparency and Food Sovereignty
The decree published on 18 February 2025 extends the origin labelling obligation to pork, lamb and poultry meats — a measure that since 2002 had applied only to beef.
This decree making origin labelling of meats mandatory in restaurants responds to a three-fold demand:
- From poultry farmers, who wish to highlight the quality of their products by informing consumers of the French origin of the meat.
- From consumers, who demand to know the provenance of the food they eat, as French products are recognised for their quality and flavour.
- From restaurateurs, who regard French origin as a quality hallmark and a competitive advantage.
Restaurant owners will now be required to indicate:
1° “Origin: (name of country)”, when the birth, rearing and slaughter of the animal from which the meat comes have taken place in the same country.
2° For beef: “Born and reared in: (name of country of birth and name of the rearing country/countries) and slaughtered in: (name of country of slaughter)”, when birth, rearing and slaughter have taken place in different countries.
3° For pork, lamb and poultry meat: “Reared in: (name of the rearing country/countries) and slaughtered in: (name of country of slaughter)”, when birth, rearing and slaughter have taken place in different countries.
This information must be presented to the consumer in a legible and visible manner, whether by means of posters, indication on menus and set menus, or any other medium.
ORIGINAL DECREE: Décret n°2002-1465 du 17 décembre 2002 relatif à l’étiquetage des viandes bovines, porcines, ovines et de volailles dans les établissements de restauration. Dernière mise à jour des données de ce texte : 19 février 2025. NOR : ECOC0200143D. Version en vigueur au 20 février 2025
It is no coincidence that this decree was adopted just days before the opening of the International Agricultural Show, where the commitment of French poultry and livestock farmers to quality and sustainable food is showcased. This Government decision further reinforces the visibility of French agricultural products in gastronomy. While the origin of fresh meats was already mandatory in retail outlets, it must now also be displayed in restaurants. French consumers who so wish will therefore be able to opt for dishes made with meats produced on their own territory, being able to choose — with KNOWLEDGE OF ORIGIN — whether or not to purchase non-French poultry meat that may have travelled thousands of kilometres.
It is important to note that the importation of meat from authorised third countries is not prohibited; it is simply that both retail outlets and restaurants are obliged to inform consumers of the provenance of that meat.
Why is this good news for the French poultry industry and why should other countries follow suit?
As a firm advocate for each country achieving maximum food sovereignty and maintaining farms on its own territory, I believe other countries should take note of this development in France and replace the variable [France] with [My country]. There will undoubtedly be hypocrisy, since “money talks”, and although they will not say so publicly, major food retail chains will not be enthusiastic — because when the country of origin of a meat is not stated, they always have greater flexibility to place meat from country X, Y or Z without the consumer being fully aware. However, I can assure you that this decree is a breath of fresh air for poultry farmers. Here is why:
- Recognition of national expertise: This decree finally makes it possible to highlight the excellence of this “Made in [My country]” label, which should be a source of pride for broiler farmers.
- Informed consumer choice: French consumers are increasingly concerned about what they eat. Some 82% of them are more inclined to enter a restaurant that displays the “Volaille Française” logo. This decree empowers them to make informed choices, to prioritise quality and to support local farms.
- Competitive advantage: Faced with foreign competition, which is sometimes subject to less stringent standards, French origin becomes a compelling argument. Restaurateurs who embrace transparency will come out ahead. It is a virtuous circle that will benefit everyone, from the poultry farmer to the consumer, via the restaurateur.
- Response to a three-fold demand: The decree was adopted to respond to the needs of poultry farmers, consumers and restaurateurs alike.
- Towards mandatory origin labelling for processed products: While this new legislation is a victory for the French poultry industry, it is not the end of the road, as the medium-to-long-term aim is to extend this origin labelling obligation to processed products as well.
A properly informed consumer is the first step, but not the only one
This decree is an important step forward, but its application and impact will ultimately depend on:
- Restaurateurs: who will need to commit to proudly displaying the French origin of their meats — a “differentiating value” for their establishments.
- Consumers: who gain decision-making power, as they will still be able to purchase poultry from third countries or from France, but knowing with certainty its provenance. They will choose domestic or foreign, but with full knowledge of origin.
- State inspection services: which must genuinely enforce the rigorous application of this decree. Transparency must not be an empty word.
- Poultry farmers: who must continue to press the authorities to enforce what has been approved and to work alongside other agri-food sectors to extend this origin labelling obligation to processed products as well.
Federico Castelló
Founder and Director of NeXusAvicultura.com