Conclusions and recommendations
1. We agree that assurance
standards in the meat poultry sector are primarily a matter for
the industry, although consumers are obviously interested parties.
We are concerned that some standards are below those contained
in Defra's welfare codes, and consider that the industry should
bring its codes and standards up to those set by Defra. In addition,
Defra should consider its codes in the light of current academic
work and, if necessary, revise them accordingly. We recommend
that Defra should then bring forward proposals to enforce the
standards outlined in its welfare code (Paragraph 18)
2. We welcome the
development of legislation on welfare standards in the poultry
meat sector that will apply across the European Union. We hope
that Defra and all stakeholders will play a positive and critical
role in the development of a welfare directive, in order to permit
its adoption and implementation as quickly as possible. Defra
must therefore ensure that it allows adequate resources to achieve
this. (Paragraph 19)
3. We believe that
a science-based solution must be found to the welfare issues related
to enriched cages. We suggest that the framework of the five freedoms
outlined by the Farm Animal Welfare Council should be carefully
considered as the basis for any decision. We welcome the co-operation
between Defra and the industry in the research into 'colony cages'.
(Paragraph 25)
4. Defra should reconsider
its decision not to ban enriched cages only when the research
work into enriched cages is completed. (Paragraph 26)
5. The Government
should commission research and develop proposals relating to animal
welfare. (Paragraph 28)
6. Defra should continue
its consultation on sustainable procurement with other Government
departments, emphasising the legal requirements that already apply
to poultry farmers and those that will apply in future. In consultation
with the Office of Government Commerce, it should consider developing
standard tender documents for all Departments to use. (Paragraph
30)
7. We accept the Minister's
argument that Government should not subsidise producers for obeying
the law but conclude that this in turn imposes a requirement on
Government to legislate only when strictly necessary. If Government
cannot demonstrate that the costs of the legislation to those
affected are proportionate to improved standards, it must question
the reasons for proposed legislation. (Paragraph 31)
8. We believe that
it is essential for those who wish to sell in our national marketplace
to meet the standards expected of our own producers, though we
accept that this requires common European Union standards and
common enforcement at European ports. (Paragraph 37)
9. We believe that
efforts should be made to ensure that accurate labelling of production
and processing methods is required. The Government and its European
Union partners must work within the WTO to highlight the concerns
our consumers have. They should explore with the WTO how existing
rules can be interpreted and ultimately press for the reform of
rules on production and processing methods to allow distinctions
to be identified. (Paragraph 39)
10. In the light of
the revised EU rural development rules, Defra should indicate
at the earliest possible opportunity whether, and to what extent,
it plans to amend the England Rural Development Programme to include
animal welfare payments, and what level of total payments are
realistically foreseeable. (Paragraph 42)
11. We recommend that
Defra should consider what steps it can take to increase confidence
among the industry, politicians and consumers that imports from
inside and outside the European Union are appropriately checked
and conform to Union standards. Defra should also address concerns
about the lack of action taken against those who infringe food
safety and labelling rules. (Paragraph 47)
12. We believe it
is incumbent upon those who import poultry products to demonstrate
to domestic producers that equivalent standards are met by those
imports. We suggest that this means that auditing of producers
and processors overseas should therefore occur on the same frequency
as home producers and processors, and that importers supplying
the catering trade should inspect producers they source from in
the same way as supermarkets and other retailers. (Paragraph 48)
13. We welcome the
current review by the Office of Fair Trading of the Code of Practice
on Supermarkets' Dealings with Suppliers, and the commitment to
further annual reviews. We urge the retail sector to respond carefully,
constructively and rapidly to the concerns that have been expressed
about the operation of the Code. (Paragraph 52)
14. The Environment
Agency should review the time taken to process Integrated Pollution
Prevention and Control permit applications for new installations.
It should assess whether it has the resources that will be required
to ensure that all existing installations have permits by 2007,
and publish the results of this assessment. (Paragraph 54)
15. Defra should outline
the food safety implications that arise when imported meat products
come from animals fed on feedstuffs banned in this country, and
indicate what action is taken to minimise the risk to human health
of such imports. (Paragraph 55)
16. We believe that
the Government can help to bring about more certainty in the poultry
industry. It can ensure that the industry is fully consulted in
the review of the hen welfare directive and in the development
of the meat chicken welfare directive. The Government should set
out its current thinking on both these issues: in particular,
the extent to which its current welfare code reflects its objectives
for the meat chicken welfare directive and under what circumstances
it will support the continued use of enriched cages. We believe
that transparent negotiations on these issues will assist the
poultry industry to meet any new obligations and contribute to
reducing the uncertainty facing the industry. (Paragraph 57)
17. We believe that
without some form of intervention United Kingdom and European
Union poultry farmers will lose market share to overseas producers
who do not have to meet such stringent animal welfare standards.
The Government, with its European Union partners, must develop
a strategy to ensure that all poultry meat, eggs and their products
on the European Union marketplace conform to the standards that
we expect of producers in the Single Market, and have been produced
to equivalent animal welfare standards. (Paragraph 58)
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