The welfare of laying hens directive - implications for the egg industry

The welfare of laying hens directive - implications for the egg industry PDF

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2011-09-02

Total Pages: 80

ISBN-13: 9780215561220

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The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee warn of a potential commercial disaster over animal welfare regulations that could result in unfair competition for UK egg producers. New rules are designed to improve conditions for caged ('battery') hens. The Welfare of Laying Hens Directive (Council Directive 1999/74/EC), which applies to businesses with over 350 laying hens, provides that conventional cage systems must not be used after 1 January 2012. After this date, caged hens must be kept in 'enriched' cages, which have more living space per hen (750 cm2 cage area per hen compared to 550 cm2 in conventional cages - less than an A4 sheet of paper), a nest, perching space, litter to allow pecking and scratching, and unrestricted access to a feed trough. But around one third of Europe's egg production will not comply with the new welfare standards by 2012. UK egg producers have spent around £400 million to improve conditions for laying hens, and will be left at a competitive disadvantage if cheaper, illegal and non-compliant shell eggs and egg products can be imported to the UK from other European countries. The UK Government must press for an intra-community trade ban on the export of non-compliant eggs and egg products, and the EU Commission should initiate infraction proceedings against Member States where caged egg producers remain non-compliant. Failure to enforce this new Directive effectively will set a worrying precedent for other legislation intended to improve the welfare of farm animals.

Welfare of the Laying Hen

Welfare of the Laying Hen PDF

Author: G. C. Perry

Publisher: CABI

Published: 2004-01-01

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 9780851990361

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The welfare of egg-producing poultry is a topic of great concern to the poultry industry and to researchers in applied animal behaviour. It is also subject to increased legislation. Issues such as battery cages, space requirements, access to daylight and ''free-range'' eggs have attracted public interest.

Alternative Systems for Poultry

Alternative Systems for Poultry PDF

Author: Victoria Sandilands

Publisher: CABI

Published: 2012-01-01

Total Pages: 359

ISBN-13: 9781780640099

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Recent interest in how poultry are housed and managed in order to ensure profitability, sustainability, and good levels of animal welfare, are challenging issues that commercial poultry keepers face, particularly where legislation is bringing about legal requirements for housing. This book compares and contrasts alternative housing with conventional and traditional systems for commercial poultry (laying hens, meat chickens, turkeys, waterfowl and gamebirds) with regards to welfare, disease, health, nutrition, sustainability and genotype-environment interaction. It is suitable for researchers and students in poultry science. .

Dog Control and Welfare

Dog Control and Welfare PDF

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2013-02-15

Total Pages: 190

ISBN-13: 9780215054111

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DEFRA's belated proposals to tackle irresponsible dog ownership are too limited. Since 2007 dogs have killed seven people, including five children, in private homes. The NHS also spends over £3 million annually treating dog attack injuries. Some eight assistance dogs a month, and thousands of livestock annually, are attacked by dogs. The Home Office approach to tackling antisocial behaviour is too simplistic; and fails to reflect the impact that poor breeding and training by irresponsible owners can have on a dog's behaviour. New rules should give enforcement officers more effective powers, including Dog Control Notices, to prevent dog-related antisocial behaviour. Local authorities need to devote more resources to the effective management of stray dogs. MPs call for changes in the legislation to give powers to extend the banned list to include other dogs with particularly aggressive characteristics. At the same time, those tasked to enforce legislation should have the discretion to neuter rather than destroy a banned animal where a particular dog poses no threat. The Advisory Council on Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding should be given a formal regulatory role to enforce standards. Any breeder producing more than two litters per year should be licensed and subject to welfare checks. The Kennel Club should stop registering puppies from breeders not compliant with its own Assured Breeder Scheme. It should also commission an independent annual review of Breed Standards led by vets to eliminate health problems linked to breeding for exaggerated characteristics. Lastly, MPs call on websites advertising pets to develop a voluntary Code of Practice

Policy Making in Britain

Policy Making in Britain PDF

Author: Peter Dorey

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2014-04-22

Total Pages: 345

ISBN-13: 1473905060

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Introducing you to the public policy making process in Britain today, this book adopts an empirical approach to the study of policy making by relating theory to actual developments in Britain since the 1980s. It covers: Ideas, Problem Definition, Issues and Agenda-Setting Key Individuals Key Institutions Parliament and Public Policy Implementation The shift from Government to Governance (including marketization, and devolution) The increasing role of the private and voluntary sectors in policy delivery Internationalisation and Europeanization of policies and policy making Evaluation, audits and the New Public Management Each chapter is enriched by recent real-life case studies and boxes illustrating key arguments, concepts and empirical developments. Taking into account the 2010 election and beyond, the book addresses current issues, developments and debates. The result is a contemporary and engaging text that will be required reading for all students of British politics, public policy and public administration.

Sessional Returns

Sessional Returns PDF

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2012-09-14

Total Pages: 442

ISBN-13: 9780215048387

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On cover and title page: House, committees of the whole House, general committees and select committees

HC 802 - Defra Performance in 2014-15

HC 802 - Defra Performance in 2014-15 PDF

Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13: 0215081420

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The Department's total expenditure for 2013-14 was £6.252 billion, taking into account both its activities funded directly by Parliament and grants made following the receipt of money from the European Union, predominantly to fund agricultural subsidies and rural development schemes. The Government budget allocated to and spent by Defra is known as the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) and it is set at Spending Reviews. The Department has underspent its central Government funding allocation each year since the 2010 Spending Review. In 2013-4, Defra spent £2,433 million of its DEL to meet its strategic objectives which resulted in a £61 million (2 per cent) underspend compared to its budget. The Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2013-4 state that the £50 million underspend against resource DEL was due to the following factors: (a) £30 million was not spent as the UK Government challenged EU disallowance penalties on 2010 and 2011 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) scheme expenditure; and; (b) £20 million was intentional underspend following approval from HM Treasury to carry the funding into 2014-15 to spend on flood prevention

Contamination of Beef Products

Contamination of Beef Products PDF

Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2013-02-14

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13: 9780215054197

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The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee report that current arrangements for testing and control across the European food industry have failed UK consumers. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) needs clear powers and responsibilities so that it can respond more effectively to any future food adulteration scandal. The Committee's short inquiry into contamination of beef products by horsemeat and pork follows a growing problem of food adulteration across Europe, first reported from Ireland in January 2013. The report recommends: the FSA be given the statutory powers to require producers to undertake testing, taking into account the level of risk; all testing results must be reported to the FSA whether they are mandated by the FSA or carried out independently; a broader range of testing to provide greater assurance to consumers. The Committee warns the Government that it should not, at this time, propose to reduce the labelling standards applied to British food. Moreover, the findings to date are likely to be the tip of the iceberg. The strong indications that people have intentionally substituted horsemeat for beef lead the Committee to conclude that British consumers have been cynically and systematically duped in pursuit of profit by elements within the food industry.