Chicken welfare
I AM writing to Defra about the EU Broiler Directive on meat chicken welfare.
It would be extremely disappointing for the UK Government to lower chicken welfare standards despite soaring sales of higher welfare chicken, major shifts in retailer policies and high-profile campaigns by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Compassion in World Farming.
As the Green Party's Lead Candidate for North East England in the European Parliament elections, I consider this an important campaigning priority.
The EU Broiler Directive allows chickens to be stocked at up to 42kg/m, which is equivalent to 19-21 birds per square metre – this is far too high and represents severe overcrowding.
Moreover, the EU Directive fails to address the issue of fast-growing
breeds, which causes millions of chickens to suffer from lameness and die from heart and lung failure each year.
If the UK Government takes the welfare of chickens seriously, it must exclude the upper maximum stocking density of 42kg/m from UK legislation.
Stocking density should be reduced not increased. It should also include a recommendation on choice of breed to help end the use of unnatural fast-growing breeds.
I urge Defra to take all possible measures to improve the lives of chickens in the UK.
We should set the highest possible standards and lead the way on this issue, which people in this country really care about.
SHIRLEY FORD
South Shields.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Whitley Bay
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
