Plans To Improve Chickens Welfare Long Overdue, MEP claims
EU - New legislation aimed at improving the welfare of broiler chickens has passed its first hurdle in the European Parliament.The planned rules are designed to help improve the housing in which chickens destined for meat production are kept.
It aims to reduce stocking densities, ventilation in chicken housing and impose minimum hours of darkness.
European farm ministers will now be asked to comment on the plans.
Liberal Democrat MEP Elspeth Attwooll welcomed the decision in the Parliament.
She added: "The welfare of chickens is a very emotive issue on which I have received a great deal of correspondence.
"Rearing broiler chickens in cramped conditions and keeping them in poorly ventilated and badly lit sheds is unacceptable and legislation is long overdue.
"The challenge has been how to bring real improve- ments to the current situation while avoiding too great an impact on the economic viability of European chicken farmers."
Ms Attwooll said the European proposals were been essential in preventing increase in chicken imports from countries outside the EU with lower welfare standards.
Source: ThisIsNorthScotland
22 February 2006
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