Tamil Nadu Chicken Traders Drop Indefinite Strike After Breakthrough on Feed Practices

The Tamil Nadu Chicken Traders Federation has temporarily withdrawn its proposed indefinite strike on broiler chicken sales across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, following written assurances from poultry owners to comply with government-prescribed feed withdrawal norms before dispatch.

The federation had planned to suspend broiler chicken sales from July 31, a move that was expected to disrupt operations at 60,000 to 1,00,000 retail poultry shops and significantly affect household consumers as well as the hospitality sector. Chicken traders' associations in Kerala had also extended support to the proposed protest.

The strike was announced over allegations that poultry producers were continuing to feed broiler chickens until the time of dispatch, artificially increasing the birds' weight. According to traders, this practice left 100 to 200 grams of undigested feed and water in the birds' stomachs, forcing retailers to pay for excess weight that did not translate into saleable meat.

Traders also expressed food safety and hygiene concerns, arguing that undigested feed and water could spill during slaughtering and cleaning, contaminating the meat and affecting its quality.

The federation had demanded that poultry farms withhold feed for 15 hours before dispatch, while existing government regulations require feed to be withdrawn 8 to 12 hours before slaughter.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the federation said it had decided to temporarily call off the strike after receiving a written commitment from the Broiler Coordination Committee (BCC), representing poultry producers, that it would strictly adhere to the prescribed feed-control regulations during dispatch.

The federation described the decision as a step taken in the interest of consumers and the poultry trade while indicating that it would continue to monitor compliance with the agreed norms. Traders have warned that any future violations of the feed regulations could prompt renewed protest action.

The resolution is expected to ensure the uninterrupted supply of broiler chicken across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, averting a potential disruption to retail markets and the restaurant industry.