“It’s disappointing that once again the British media is referring to chickens reared for meat as ‘battery’ farmed,” commented Bourns. “This is completely untrue and our members who look after the national flock are fed up to the back teeth of hearing it repeated.
“Chickens reared for meat in Britain are kept indoors or are free range – they are never kept in battery cages.”
Current regulations, the independent Assured Chicken Production (ACP) standards, assess producers on five welfare propositions, which ensure birds have access to sufficient food, water and space, freedom to express normal behaviour, are free from injury and disease, and that their living conditions avoid mental suffering.
“The UK and the EU lead the world in animal welfare,” continued Bourns. “British poultry farming is a highly regulated sector, both in law and in its assurance standards, which go beyond legal requirements.”
