CHICKEN FARMING AND MAXIMUM PERMITTED STOCKING DENSITY

That this House notes with concern the proposed regulation to increase the maximum permitted stocking density for chickens from the recommended 15 to 17 to 17 to 19 chickens per square metre, with a further extension to 19 to 21 chickens if certain criteria are met; further notes that The Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare record that when stocking rates exceed 30 kg per square metre welfare problems are likely to occur regardless of indoor climate control capacity; further believes that higher stocking densities result in an increase in pathologies, reduce behavioural activities and severely affect walking ability; and calls on the Government to exclude the derogation in the EU Directive that allows member states to permit extreme stocking densities above 17 to 19 chickens per square metre from UK legislation and not to abandon its previous recommended stocking density of 15 to 17 chickens per square metre, thereby permitting chicken welfare standards to be reduced.