Judgment in Judical Review - CIWF v DEFRA - UK - The judgment in the Judicial Review brought by CIWF against DEFRA was given today, 27 November. The Judge ruled in favour of DEFRA on both grounds of the CIWF case and ordered CIWF to pay two thirds of DEFRA’s costs.

The Judge threw out CIWF allegations on the welfare of breeder chickens, ruling that controlled feeding of breeding chickens is in proper compliance with EU and UK animal welfare rules. The judgment in favour of DEFRA was welcomed by the British Poultry Council, which represents chicken breeders, farmers and processors. The Judge ruled that broiler breeders are fed a diet which “is wholesome and appropriate to their age and species and sufficient to maintain good health and satisfy nutritional needs.” He concluded that there is no evidence that broiler breeders are sufficiently hungry to compromise their wellbeing.

“This is a total vindication of the high standards maintained in all aspects of modern chicken breeding and rearing systems in the UK,” said Peter Bradnock Chief Executive of the BPC. “The case has succeeded in generating publicity for CIWF but nothing else. It should never have been brought in our view” said Bradnock. “CIWF has pointlessly and irresponsibly diverted DEFRA’s time and resources from work on extending the UK welfare standards for chicken into EU-wide rules currently being drafted in Brussels.”

Note: CIWF had claimed that DEFRA was not properly implementing the EU farm animal welfare Directive. The CIWF case rested in two grounds – that the Directive had not been correctly transposed into UK Regulation, and that, in CIWF’s view, restricted feeding of broiler breeding chickens did not meet certain requirements of the Directive and therefore DEFRA was failing to properly implement the Directive. A third ground, alleging welfare problems in broiler chickens themselves, was withdrawn by CIWF’s Counsel in the Court hearing.

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Source: British Poultry Council - 27th November 2003