PRESS RELEASE
Subject: RFCB sets course toward transparency and renewal – President reviews first five months
Five months after the election of a new executive board, the Royal Belgian Pigeon Fanciers Association (RFCB) presents an overview of the current situation. The President provides a first update on the main ongoing dossiers.
“I promised honesty, simplicity and transparency. I take those words literally,” says the President. “Today I am providing a status update where possible and explaining why some dossiers cannot yet be fully disclosed.”
Concrete results
Over the past months, the RFCB has achieved the following:
A reform of doping controls: sampling is now carried out based on predefined parameters rather than on individuals.
Final approval of the championships and racing calendar, ensuring a fair balance between small-scale fanciers and professionals.
A streamlined format for the National Days, whose costs (€100,000–€150,000 per edition) were no longer justifiable.
The RFCB no longer organizes races itself, allowing the federation to once again carry out independent controls.
A new transport protocol for pigeons, focusing on optimal animal welfare.
The start of a simplification process of statutes and regulations, alongside the introduction of a conflict-of-interest policy.
Dossiers currently in progress
Work is ongoing on the following dossiers:
A new business plan for 2026–2031 (more clarity expected within approximately one month).
An ICT audit: potential issues have been identified; consultations with stakeholders will follow.
Digitalization: negotiations regarding free loft-management applications.
Personnel policy: research into more efficient deployment, including the use of AI applications.
A structural approach to the 2026 budget, which currently shows a negative balance due to contracts concluded during the previous board period.
Disciplinary cases: these are handled by the independent chambers; the board does not intervene.
Transparency with responsibility
The President emphasizes that not all dossiers can currently be fully disclosed.
“Making ongoing negotiations public prematurely could weaken the RFCB. I owe it to our 12,000 members to avoid that. Transparency remains my objective, but not at the expense of the federation’s interests.”
The RFCB will continue to provide regular updates on further developments in the coming months.
Johan De Schouwer
President RFCB
ANNEX – OVERVIEW OF 15 DOSSIERS
1. What I can already present
Doping controls
The selection of samples has been fundamentally revised. From now on, controls are no longer based on who is being tested, but on predefined parameters. This makes the system more objective and fairer. I personally visited the testing laboratory and can assure you: their procedures are 100% reliable.
Championships and racing calendar
The calendar for GHF, Long Distance and Extreme Long Distance races has been definitively approved. I personally insisted on maintaining a fair balance between small-scale fanciers and professionals. Professional pigeon fanciers will need to make certain concessions.
National Days
Costs ranging from €100,000 to €150,000 per edition are no longer justifiable. Therefore, it has been decided that a streamlined format will be introduced in 2027.
Independent races
The RFCB no longer organizes races itself. As a result, we can once again carry out independent controls. We are no longer both judge and party.
Transport protocol
A new transport protocol has been developed for transporting pigeons to and at release locations. This document is currently under revision. The objective: optimal conditions for the pigeons.
Simplification of regulations
We are working on a complete simplification of the statutes and regulations into clear, understandable language. The project plan is ready. The objective is to finalize this within two years.
Conflict-of-interest policy
An initial framework for a strict conflict-of-interest policy has been prepared. This will be implemented together with the new statutes.
2. Where I am still gathering information
Business plan 2026–2031
We are working on a plan for the next five years. Input has been requested from officials, staff members and around thirty pigeon fanciers. Once all feedback has been received, a general summary will follow. More clarity is expected within approximately one month.
ICT audit
An inventory of potential issues has been completed. The next step is consultation with the parties involved to address them.
Digitalization
We are negotiating with partners to make free loft-management applications available. The objective is to make life easier and more transparent for pigeon fanciers.
Personnel policy
We are examining whether the same work can be carried out with fewer staff members. AI applications and simplification of regulations are expected to reduce workload. The simplification alone could already reduce workload by approximately 20%.
3. Matters on which I cannot yet provide detailed information
Disciplinary cases (irregularities)
Several dossiers concerning irregularities are currently being handled by the independent chambers. The board does not intervene. There is a strict separation between the board and the chambers.
Budget 2026
The budget shows a negative balance. There are two reasons: contracts concluded by the previous board, and the fact that the new board has not yet been able to implement well-considered savings measures. I am working on a structural solution.
Legal proceedings
Legal proceedings cost the RFCB significant amounts of money. Wherever possible, compromises are sought through settlements. No further communication will be made regarding ongoing cases.
External relations with public authorities
Steps have been taken to reduce threats to pigeon racing. This is long-term work. In order not to weaken the negotiation position, no further details are being disclosed at this time.