What you need to know
- The use of growth hormones in the rearing of poultry is prohibited in the European Union and in Romania. The prohibition is regulated by Directive 96/22/EC, transposed into national legislation by ANSVSA Ordinance No. 199/2006, with subsequent amendments and additions.
- The rapid growth of today's calves is the result of progress in genetics, nutrition, animal welfare, and farm management, not the use of hormones.
- Legally marketed chicken meat is subject to a rigorous system of official and internal controls regarding food safety.
The legislative framework
The use of growth hormones in the rearing of animals intended for food production has been banned in the European Union for over four decades. The ban applies to all member states and products introduced onto the European market, including those imported from other countries.
Main legislative acts
Council Directive 96/22/EC on the prohibition of the use of certain substances with hormonal or thyrostatic effects and of β-agonists in animal husbandry
- represents the main European legislative act prohibiting the administration of substances with hormonal effects to stimulate growth in animals intended for human consumption;
- prohibits the possession, marketing and slaughter of animals treated with such substances for the purpose of stimulating growth, as well as the marketing of meat derived from them;
- It establishes limited exceptions exclusively for certain therapeutic or zootechnical uses, carried out under strict veterinary control and without any link to growth promotion.
Directive 2003/74/CE
- It consolidates and updates the European legislative framework on the prohibition of growth hormones, based on the latest scientific assessments regarding the protection of public health.
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 on official controls
- establishes the general framework for the official controls carried out by the competent authorities on food and products of animal origin;
- includes the verification of compliance with legislation regarding the use of prohibited substances and the monitoring of residues in the food chain.
Regulations (EU) 2022/1644 and 2022/1646
- they establish official programs for monitoring the residues of veterinary drugs and the prohibited substances in live animals and in products of animal origin;
- It obliges all Member States to implement annual control and monitoring programs.
What does this mean in practice?
In the European Union:
- hormones cannot be used to accelerate the growth of birds or other animals intended for human consumption;
- The use of hormonal substances for the purpose of stimulating growth is prohibited both for domestic production and for imported products on the EU market;
- Veterinary authorities carry out official monitoring programs to detect prohibited substances and any possible residues;
- Any non-compliance leads to the measures provided for by European legislation, including the blocking of products and official investigations.
Did you know that?
In the European Union, producers can use on the label mentions such as „No hormones” or „No growth hormones”, but these must be accompanied by the clarification that the use of hormones is prohibited by European legislation. In other words, the statement does not describe a competitive advantage of the product, but refers to a legal requirement applicable to the entire poultry industry in the European Union.
How it works
In recent decades, the performance of chicken breeds has evolved significantly. The explanation does not lie in the use of hormones, but in the continuous improvement of genetic selection, nutrition, and growing conditions.
The genetic selection used in poultry farming involves choosing birds that naturally possess the desired characteristics, such as health, resistance, or efficiency in food utilization. This process is similar to the breeding used for centuries in agriculture and does not involve genetic modification of animals in the laboratory.
In parallel, the birds benefit from balanced nutritional recipes formulated for each stage of growth, as well as conditions controlled by temperature, ventilation, light, and well-being. All these factors contribute to their normal and healthy development.
Where do the confusions come from?
The mistaken perception that chicks are raised with hormones is one of the most persistent ideas about the poultry industry. There are several explanations for this:
- on some labels appear mentions such as „Without hormones” or „Without growth hormones”, which can create the impression that the use of hormones is a common practice in the industry or that there are similar products that contain hormones, which is not true for the European Union;
- Today's calves grow faster than a few decades ago, thanks to advances in genetic selection, nutrition, and farm management;
- Consumers notice differences in size compared to birds raised traditionally;
- incomplete or out-of-context information frequently circulates in the online environment.
In reality, the use of growth hormones in poultry farming is prohibited by European Union legislation. The progress in poultry farming is explained by genetic improvement, improved feeding, welfare conditions and farm management, not by the use of hormones. For this reason, when such mentions appear on the label, they only create confusion, because hormones are not authorized for use in poultry production at the EU level.
In figures
- 0 growth hormones authorized for use in the rearing of birds in the European Union.
- The genetic selection used in poultry farming is based on selective reproduction, Not the genetic modification of birds in the laboratory.
- European legislation prohibits the use of hormones to stimulate the growth of birds, and labeling stating „grown without hormones” must specify that their use is prohibited by law.
- According to the EFSA report published on February 26, 2024, of the 2,721 samples Of poultry analyzed for hormones and other residues, no trace was found no inconsistent evidence.
In a nutshell
✔ Growth hormones are banned in the European Union.
✔ The development of modern breeds is the result of genetic selection, nutrition, and farm management.
✔ The chicken meat sold legally is checked within a rigorous system of control and food safety.
The mentions on the label must be accompanied by the clarification that the use of hormones is prohibited by European legislation.
Did you know that...
The TRANSAVIA product ranges are periodically tested, both on the initiative of the company within the internal self-control system and, more occasionally, by the competent authorities (including by sampling from the goods displayed for sale in commerce), to verify the possible presence of prohibited substances. Every year, over 250 samples are taken from different batches, which are analyzed to detect prohibited substances such as hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, or other unwanted contaminants. This rigorous system contributes to ensuring food safety and maintaining a high quality standard for all our products. To date, there has been no suspicion or positive result regarding the presence of hormones in our products.
