RSPCA opposes EU poultry legislation in England
26 August 2009
The Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has called on the
government to reject new European Union (EU) legislation that would
leave chickens reared for meat with less space to live in.
According to the charity, the retrograde step would see poultry
animals given less living area than an A4 piece of paper.
The organisation has launched an online appeal entitled Quash
the Squash, which is encouraging the public to sign a petition
against the EU legislation being brought into English law by the
department for environment, food and rural affairs (Defra).
"At a time when more of us are concerned about how chickens are
reared, we seem to be in a position where the EU is making
conditions worse, not better," RSPCA senior farm animal scientist
Dr Marc Cooper commented.
"We are asking people to support us in calling on Defra to make
the right decision for chicken welfare," Dr Cooper added,
highlighting the health implications the legislation could have on
chickens.
The RSPCA costs £82 million to operate annually, its website
states.
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