AVEC, the association representing 95% of European poultry production, is calling on EU institutions to apply a precautionary suspension of poultry imports from China following an audit by the European Commission that concluded that official controls underpinning poultry exports from China cannot provide satisfactory guarantees to support EU public health and animal welfare attestations.
Imports from China have risen significantly in recent years, increasing by more than 30% compared to the previous year, reaching around 50.000 tonnes in 2025. These imports enter the EU market under full duty conditions.
AVEC had already warned about the risks linked to certification and control systems in 2024. The Commission’s audit now confirms systemic shortcomings affecting animal welfare oversight at slaughter, traceability, hygiene controls and the reliability of certification supporting exports to the EU.
AVEC said public confidence in EU food policy relies on clear and verifiable guarantees for all products placed on the market, regardless of origin. “European citizens expect that food sold in the EU meets the same level of assurance, whether produced inside or outside Europe,” said Birthe Steenberg, secretary general of AVEC. “When official audits highlight gaps in verification systems, the credibility of EU standards is at stake.”
Given the gravity of the Commission’s own audit conclusions, AVEC noted that the absence of immediate measures raises serious questions about the consistency of enforcement across the EU market.
“Fair competition depends on reciprocity in practice,” added Steenberg. “If Europe raises standards internally, imports must provide equivalent guarantees.
“EU policymakers have faced similar situations before, including the Carne Fraca case, where weaknesses in certification systems required swift precautionary measures to protect consumer trust,” said Steenberg. “When the Commission’s own audits identify systemic shortcomings, acting decisively is merely consistent with established EU practice.”