Rochdale Euro-MP describes EU chicken cruelty curbs as inadequate

Date published: 17/02/2006

Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies has described EU moves to curb cruel methods of rearing chickens as inadequate.

He has highlighted research by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), which claims around 100,000 birds die prematurely every day.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said:  "Chicken used to be a comparatively expensive meat, saved for Sunday dinners and special occasions.   The sharp fall in price has come at the expense of animal welfare."

Chicken is the cheapest and most popular meat sold in the UK and around 868 million birds, known as broilers, are reared for their meat every year.

Broiler chickens are genetically selected to grow quickly and the time from when they hatch until they appear on a supermarket shelf can be less than 6 weeks.  The birds grow so rapidly they can suffer from severe health problems such as chronic lameness and heart defects. 

Most chickens bred for their meat spend their lives in heavily stocked sheds that have very low light to discourage activity and maximise growth.  This disrupts normal sleep patterns causing stress, eye abnormalities and leg disorders.

This week MEPs voting in Strasbourg approved new proposals to end to cruel practices such as beak-trimming, and deliver improvements in the conditions of the sheds in which the chickens are housed.

But amendments by Mr Davies to secure changes recommended by the RSPCA, Britain's largest animal charity, were not included in the new proposals.

He said:  "The changes agreed today are really just minor improvements to the conditions in which broiler hens are kept and will have a very limited impact on animal welfare.

"This is a difficult issue and we have to protect the businesses of British chicken farmers.  Animal welfare is not included in the World Trade Organisation agreements and if we impose too much of a burden on farmers the price of their chicken will be uncompetitive and our shops will be full of cheap imports from countries where animal welfare standards are much worse."

Chris Davies is supporting the Rspca's call for clearer labelling of chicken products to allow customers to make informed decisions about the meat they buy.  According to a survey carried out by the charity, the welfare of the animal is the second most important consideration, behind health claims but before price and taste.

He said:  "Research shows consumers are confused about the labelling of chicken products.  There is a need for clear and accurate information about how chickens have been produced so consumers can make an informed choice."

Until the new law is agreed, the RSPCA recommends people only buy chicken that has the 'Freedom Food' label, or free-range birds.