4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Old Speckled Hen]

Are we surprised

 

http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19024

[Guest]

I can see their point because of the imports, however (without reading Council Directive 2007/43 in full) I think overall this reads quite positively doesn't it or am I missing something?

 

This paragraph was encouraging...

 

Within the Defra consultation is a requirement relating to the training of persons responsible for the welfare of meat chickens on the farm. This part of the Directive is an important part of ensuring continued good practice in the Meat Chicken Industry. Stockmanship is a key factor in ensuring high standards of animal welfare for all species and in all different types of systems. Defra is keen to work with the meat chicken industry in this important area.

 

[Old Speckled Hen]

I can see their point because of the imports, however (without reading Council Directive 2007/43 in full) I think overall this reads quite positively doesn't it or am I missing something?

 

This paragraph was encouraging...

 

Within the Defra consultation is a requirement relating to the training of persons responsible for the welfare of meat chickens on the farm. This part of the Directive is an important part of ensuring continued good practice in the Meat Chicken Industry. Stockmanship is a key factor in ensuring high standards of animal welfare for all species and in all different types of systems. Defra is keen to work with the meat chicken industry in this important area.

 

The directive merely defines the parameters of the act so that all member countries work towards a common document and as you rightly say paying attention to stockmanship is a good thing.

It's the usual "get-out" clause that is worrying

 

Whilst we acknowledge that the Freedom Food scheme provides for a high standard of welfare, the new EU rules are fully compliant with the Animal Welfare Act. To require all producers to meet additional Freedom Foods standards would put UK meat chicken producers at a disadvantage.

 

This implies that the EU rules are substandard in relation to Freedom Food standards doesn't it?

 

Rather than lamely saying that implementing Freedom Food standards solely in the UK would put OUR farmers at a disadvantage shouldn't our UK EU representatives be fighting for Freedom Food standards throughout the EU?

[Guest]

yes but I would imagine that would call for a petition to the MEP concerned or some sort of correspondance to them.

 

I think that because the petition only obtained 505 signatures, it possibly wasn't taken that seriously either, which is a shame.