Sunday 19^th March 2006

PRESS RELEASE FROM COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING - IRELAND

ANIMAL WELFARE GROUP TELLS EU FARM MINISTERS THAT PROPOSED NEW EU LAW WILL FAIL TO END MISERY OF FACTORY FARMED MEAT CHICKENS

Europe's six billion intensively-farmed broiler chickens (reared for chicken meat) will continue to suffer unless a proposed new EU farming Directive is significantly strengthened, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) has warned.

CIWF is so alarmed at the proposed Directive's failings that it has launched a “Chickens OUT!” campaign with European sister organisations, calling for the public to lobby MEPs to push for improvements to the draft law.

On Monday 20^th March the campaign begins with a mass lobby at 12:45 pm outside the Council of Ministers building in Brussels (Rue de la Loi 175) where EU farm Ministers will be meeting. A scroll representing the signatures of 324,281 EU citizens (including over 1,000 from people in Ireland) will be handed to the German and Austrian Ministers.

PHOTOCALL AT 12.45 pm.

On Monday 20^th March, a mass lobby at 12.45 pm outside the Council of Ministers building in Brussels (Rue de la Loi 175). The scroll representing petition signatures will be handed to the German and Austrian Ministers. CIWF's giant chicken mascot, Charlie the Chicken, will be there. Contact at Photocall: Barbara Dias Pais on +33 388 601 275 or +33 624 254 508

CIWF is calling on Ministers to improve the standards laid down in the proposed new EU Directive on broiler chickens. This proposed new Directive will, for the first time, lay down legal minimum welfare standards for meat chickens in the EU. But, says CIWF, the standards in the draft of the proposed new legislation are not good enough and, in particular, fail to address the problems of overcrowding and the use of ultra-fast growing strains of birds.

The draft Directive does nothing to restrict the use of ultra-fast growing broiler breeds. These birds have been selectively bred to reach slaughter weight in just six weeks, twice as fast as 30 years ago. As a result, they suffer extensively from painful leg disorders, with many dying of heart failure.

With regard to overcrowding, the proposed Directive would limit the density for the first time to 38kg/m² (approx. 17 birds per square metre). CIWF is calling for this to be reduced to 25kg/m² (approx. 12 birds per square metre), a scientifically-proven maximum beyond which, broiler welfare deteriorates seriously.

Mary-Anne Bartlett, Director of CIWF in Ireland, says:

“CIWF welcomes, in principle, the first EU legislation that will govern welfare standards for meat chickens. But sadly, the current draft fails in several major ways to address the welfare problems that these birds face. Many broiler chickens suffer from the effects of overcrowded conditions and ultra-fast growth. If the draft EU Directive is accepted in its current state, then it will actually enshrine this suffering in EU law. CIWF wants to see the new Directive set standards that ensure meat chickens are given more space and slower-growing birds are used.”

Background information:

How chickens are kept - The vast majority of meat chickens (broiler chickens) in the EU (including in Ireland) live in crowded conditions inside large windowless sheds that can contain tens of thousands of birds. These birds have been selectively bred to grow super-fast, reaching slaughter weight at just 6 weeks old. As a result of this fast growth, birds are prone to suffering from painful leg disorders and heart failure.

CIWF’s “Chickens OUT!” campaign in Europe - CIWF is launching the Chickens OUT! campaign with the European Coalition for Farm Animals (ECFA), a body hosted by CIWF and comprising of 31 European animal welfare organisations. The aim of the campaign is to persuade EU agriculture ministers to improve the Directive.

European public concerned about welfare of meat chickens - Welfare standards for meat chickens are of serious concern to the European public. A recent survey by the European Commission on attitudes to farm animal welfare found that 78 per cent of Europeans consider broiler welfare poor or very poor; and 87 per cent believe that more needs to be done to improve the conditions in which they live.

For further information contact:

Mary-Anne Bartlett, Director, CIWF-Ireland on 021 4272441 (office hours)

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