UK Animal Welfare Policy Under Fire for Allowing Harmful Chicken Handling Practices

Animal welfare charities are raising concerns about the Labour government’s decision to change laws surrounding the handling of chickens, accusing it of weakening protections. According to these groups, the government is set to legalize a harmful practice that has long been prohibited by European law.

Currently, European Transport Regulation 1/2005, which still applies in the UK, bans the act of carrying chickens by their legs on farms, as well as during loading and unloading. This regulation was put in place to prevent harm, as chickens can suffer significant injuries, including fractures and dislocations, when carried by their legs. However, the Animal Law Foundation has revealed that the government is planning to reverse this prohibition, allowing the previously illegal method to continue without consequences.

Edie Bowles, executive director at the Animal Law Foundation, expressed dismay over the government’s stance. “It is shocking that the Labour government has chosen a dilution of welfare protections as its first animal welfare policy. It is especially surprising given it is the first dilution of an EU animal welfare protection since Brexit,” she said. Bowles emphasized that the decision runs counter to public sentiment, stating that “the British people do not want this. They want animal welfare standards high and enforced.”

The Labour government’s move comes as a surprise to many, especially after Brexit was touted as an opportunity to strengthen the UK’s animal welfare laws. Throughout the Brexit and general election campaigns, figures like Steve Reed, who now serves as environment secretary, had promised that Labour would improve animal welfare standards, even claiming, “The Conservatives are on the side of animal cruelty. Labour will end it.”

However, despite existing EU regulations, the government had previously maintained that handling chickens by their legs was not explicitly illegal, and Defra’s (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) guidelines permitted what they called “leg-catching.” This prompted the Animal Law Foundation to take legal action against Defra. In response, the government acknowledged that the practice was indeed illegal but indicated that it would change the law to allow it.

The debate over the costs associated with humane handling practices has also come to light. Kipster, a Dutch poultry farm known for its carbon-neutral eggs, calculated that handling chickens upright would add a negligible cost—just €0.0004 (approximately £0.0003) per egg.

Sean Gifford, executive director of the Humane League, highlighted the suffering this decision would cause. “Chickens are thinking, feeling animals. Some are shy, some are playful, and they all want to live their lives free from harm,” he said. Gifford explained that chickens, already bred to grow rapidly for profit, often have sensitive, painful legs, and carrying them upside down exacerbates their suffering. He condemned the policy change as an “outrageous decision by the government” and emphasized that it contradicts Labour’s prior pledges to improve animal welfare.

This debate over chicken handling is not the only animal welfare issue facing the government. The Humane League is also challenging the legality of breeding fast-growing broiler chickens, who suffer from a range of health issues due to their rapid growth. Although the High Court rejected an initial legal challenge last year, the Humane League will be at the court of appeal to continue their fight.

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