Chicken welfare concerns

Food and Farming Minister Jeff Rooker was more outspoken in his support for British farmers.

He made his concerns known about the vast quantities of cooked chicken currently being imported into the UK.

He said large amounts of fresh chicken were being imported from South East Asia when avian flu struck, although fresh imports had now ceased.

Yet the UK imports an astonishing 80 per cent of its cooked chicken – 1,800 tonnes per week – most of it from South East Asia, Lord Rooker said.

He told an RSPCA reception and a separate fringe meeting this raised real welfare issues.

“The question arises as to whether we are 100 per cent satisfied with the conditions of the chicken and the methods of production used. We are not complete masters in our own house,” he said.

He said the World Trade Organisation did not permit animal welfare to be a condition of trade and this placed UK pig and poultry producers, who faced tougher welfare rules, at a potential disadvantage.

“It comes down to whether consumers are aware of the extra conditions and are willing to pay more for it. By and large when asked in polls they say ‘yes’, but their pocket says ‘no’ and that is a real problem.”