MEPs hatch plans to improve chicken welfare

4.14.33pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 14th Feb 2006

Sarah discussing broiler chickens with animal welfare expert Peter Stevenson

Euro-MPs are demanding improvements in the welfare of the 6 billion 'broiler' chickens raised annually for meat production in the EU.

In a vote today, MEPs voted for legislation which would see an end to cruel practices such as beak-trimming and semi-starvation, and improvements in the conditions of the sheds in which the chickens are housed. These include more space per bird, introduction of periods of light and darkness and improvements in ventilation.

They also called for more attention to the welfare aspects of selective breeding programmes, which can mean that chickens grow too fast to be able to stand upright and may suffer from painful lameness or may suffer fatal heart failure.

Liberal Democrat MEP for London Baroness Sarah Ludford welcomed the result, saying:

"Some of the conditions which chickens suffer in our desire for cheap meat are appalling. I am grateful to organisations such as the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming for raising the profile of this issue."

"But producers need European consumers to buy their welfare-friendly chicken meat rather than cheaper imports. MEPs' call for an EU labelling system giving information about compliance with these standards is very important, and the best way to deal with lower-welfare imports."