In 2008, European Union (EU) 27 broiler production returned to pre-avian influenza (AI) levels. Despite retail price increases, reflecting higher feed and energy costs, broiler meat remains a popular and relatively affordable source of protein. An expected decrease in feed prices in 2009 may lead to a renewed interest in beef at the expense of chicken. Therefore, 2009 broiler production is expected to grow slowly, 1 to 2 percent, in line with consumption.

EU-27 turkey production will likely continue its downward trend in 2008 and 2009. The EU-27 broiler trade balance is expected to remain negative in 2008/09 as rising imports from Brazil and Thailand surpass declining EU exports. Since June 2007, Brazil and Thailand have exported broiler meat under a tariff rate quota established in 2007 (as the result of a WTO case) and some experts predict that over-quota imports could increase if EU domestic prices remain high. For 2008, the primary markets for EU-27 broiler meat exports are expected to be Russia, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. French broiler exports are expected to grow slowly in 2008 and 2009, supported by higher EU restitutions. Turkey imports should remain stable under an import quota. EU-27 turkey exports should also remain stable as lower French exports to Africa are replaced by higher German and Dutch exports to Russia.

More mergers and takeovers are projected within the European poultry industry which has been weakened by increasing production costs and strong competition from Brazil. The United States lost a 100,000 metric ton (MT) market in Romania and Bulgaria after these countries joined the EU, due to EU sanitary regulations. The approval of Pathogen Reduction Treatments (PRTs) on poultry by the Transatlantic Economic Council has been a significant priority for the U.S. Despite the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) findings in 2003 and 2005 that these treatments were safe, Member States continue to resist approval for use in Europe and for use on imported products.