Defra has informed the National Farmers Union (NFU) that Ministers have agreed that English legislation to implement Council Directive 2007/43/EC will set a maximum stocking density of 39kg per square metre. Defra aims to make these Regulations as soon as possible but given the nature of the Parliamentary process and the fact that the legislation has to be debated in both Houses, they have missed the EU deadline of 31 July.

Consequently, the legislation still needs to be debated and will not be passed until October.

Furthermore Defra are amending mutilation legislation in respect of the beak trimming of laying hens. To avoid criticism by the Joint Committee of Statutory Instruments, Defra has decided to remove the provision relating to beak trimming of conventionally reared meat chickens from the Regulations, which will transpose Council Directive 2007/43, and to combine this provision with the laying hens (welfare of laying hens English legislation) amendment in a separate set of Regulations. These will be debated in the autumn.

NFU members can view the full briefing by clicking here.