Poultry Catching and Handling Consultation (Ymgynghoriad ar ddal a thrin dofednod)

Assimilated Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations ('Regulation 1/2005’) does not currently include manual lifting and carrying (‘catching’) by two legs, for the purpose of transportation in connection with an economic activity, as a permitted method for poultry (or any vertebrate animal). However, Defra’s statutory codes of practice for the welfare of laying hens and pullets, and the welfare of meat chickens and meat breeding chickens, similar codes in Wales, and similar statutory guidance in Scotland (the ‘GB statutory guidance’), include catching chickens by both legs as an appropriate and acceptable method. The GB statutory guidance reflects the prevailing scientific consensus, on this matter, at the time that Regulation 1/2005 was adopted by the Council of the European Union. It is also in line with recent recommendations made by the Animal Welfare Committee