A WELCOME CHANGE FOR CHICKEN

6.01.52pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Jun 2007

Local MEP for the West Midlands Liz Lynne has welcomed the proposed new EU 'Broiler Directive' which will improve the lives of the 868 million chickens reared for food in the UK each year.

Currently the majority of chicken consumed is reared intensively in overcrowded conditions which the RSPCA have claimed can lead to 100,000 premature deaths each day. Genetic selection in order to encourage rapid growth has also led to lameness, weak hearts and other health problems.

Commenting today from Brussels Liz said:

"This Directive paves the way for improvement in living conditions and will outlaw some of the cruellest practices uncovered across Europe, such as beak trimming."

"The extra attention this legislation gives to animal welfare and food labelling will improve the quality of life for these birds and therefore also the quality of the food that arrives on our plates."

"The rules will provide gradual improvement while ensuring that West Midlands farmers are not subject to too much legislative burden, due to the existing UK rules in force and industry standards such as the Red Tractor mark. These ensure that local businesses already perform to high standards whereas the new directive will harmonise standards across Europe."

"However it is vital that the EU's high standards are now also applied to produce from outside the EU, much of which is currently subject to little or no welfare controls."

The Directive has been agreed upon by Agriculture ministers across the EU as well as the European Commission and will now be submitted to the European Parliament. On approval it will come into force in 2010 and will include a maximum stocking density, industry training and scientific monitoring of living conditions.

ENDS