Day 020 - 28 Jul 94 - Page 74


     
     1        welfare issue along with the profit issue.  The third area
              you implied where there has been improvement over time
     2        was, in fact, in connection with dead on arrival
              chickens.  It so happens there has not been any material
     3        change or, should I say, material improvement over time
              compared with the survey in 1992 and my inspection in
     4        1993.  The only change I have identified was a swing from
              crushed skulls towards a dislocated hip in a very limited
     5        number of birds.  That is not going to have a great
              bearing on quality, so not important profit wise.
     6
         MS. STEEL:   Just a couple of questions I forgot to ask.
     7
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do not rush.  I know we are going on.
     8        I think there is no harm in being economical with the
              questions, but there is no need to rush through the
     9        question.  Ask the questions you want to.
 
    10   MS. STEEL:   Is there any EC legislation regarding poultry
              rearing?
    11        A.  There is generic legislation which covers cruelty
              so-called.  I am not familiar with any EC regulations, no,
    12        I am not, but I am open to correction.
 
    13   Q.   Right.  So you do not think there is any?
              A.  There is a working group at the moment in the Council
    14        of Europe preparing a code of conduct -- just a moment,
              no.
    15
         Q.   So far as you know, there is not any?
    16        A.  No, right.
 
    17   Q.   In the UK are broiler chickens ever reared in cages or on
              wire floors?
    18        A.  No, to the first part; to the best of my knowledge, no
              to the second part.
    19
         Q.   Right.
    20
         MR. MORRIS:  Just nearly finished now.
    21        A.  I may have been appearing a little pedantic in my
              answer to the shift in quality with time.  I think, in
    22        general terms, but I do not wish this to apply to these
              particular plants, in general terms welfare improvements
    23        are made for the sake of welfare, rather than for the sake
              of meat quality in general terms; because people in the
    24        abattoir, and to some extent the livestock industry, are
              becoming very sensitive of welfare criticisms.
    25
         MR. MORRIS:  Is that because of outside influences? 
    26        A.  Absolutely, yes, there are exceptions to that rule 
              though, but that is in general. 
    27
         Q.   Would you describe a battery cage as comfortable?
    28
         MR. RAMPTON:  My Lord, I really -----
    29
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Have we not been through this already?
    30
         MS. STEEL:   It is one simple question -- no more to it.

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