Tue=
sday 8th
May 2007
PRESS RELEASE FROM COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING - IRELAND
New EU Directive on meat chickens gives green light to intensive pou=
ltry
production
A new European Directive agreed by the EU Agriculture Council yester=
day
evening (Monday 7 May) setting minimum standards for chickens reared for me=
at
is unacceptable, says Ireland's leading farm animal welfare group Compassio=
n in
World Farming (CIWF).
=
220;The
Council Directive: Laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens=
kept
for meat production” does almost nothing to improve the welfa=
re
of the 5 billion chickens reared for meat annually in the EU. The Directive allows birds to be s=
tocked
at a density of 39 kg per square metre, which is=
about
18 birds per square metre of floor space.
Furthermore, the Directive fails to tackle problems caused by the us=
e of
fast-growing birds. Chickens =
have
been pushed through selective breeding to reach slaughter weight in just 42
days, instead of the traditional 84, not giving enough time for their legs =
to
develop and support the body weight.
As a result, each year millions of chickens in the EU suffer from
painful leg disorders.
The new Directive will come into force throughout the EU in 2010.
In the Republic of Ireland, about 67 million chickens are reared for
meat each year. The vast majo=
rity
of these are reared in indoor intensive systems.
Mar=
y-Anne
Bartlett, Director of CIWF-Ireland, says:
“CIWF is very disappointed with the standards set in the
Directive. This new EU legisl=
ation
gives the green light to highly intensive poultry production. Cramming 18 chickens into a square=
metre
of floor space is unacceptable. The
new EU legislation also fails to address the use of unnaturally fast-growing
birds that are prone to painful leg problems.”
Whilst CIWF welcomes a Directive that does at least provide some min=
imum
standards, it is our view that this one does not do enough.
We urge Irish consumers to choose the more welfare-friendly option of
Irish free-range or organic chicken, where birds are reared in systems that
allow them access to outdoors.”
For
further information:
Please contact Mary-Anne Bartlett on 021 4639038
ENDS