Labour faces legal scrutiny after allowing chickens to be carried by legs

"This welfare law was in place for the protection of chickens and if the government was able to so clearly ignore it, or even worse, dilute it, it sets an unsettling precedent. The government quietly weakened the few rules that exist to protect chickens rather than tackle the enforcement problem. When the UK left the European Union, the public was promised higher animal welfare standards as a benefit now the opposite is happening."

"The practice, which causes distress and injuries to chickens, was forbidden under European regulations but a statutory instrument, laid by the environment secretary, Steve Reed, came into force on 22 July allowing it in England, Wales and Scotland. Despite previously being illegal, handling chickens by the legs during transport-related operations was already widespread, according to the Animal Law Foundation. But it said the government should have responded by stamping it our rather than legitimising it."

"The Animal Law Foundation says that handling chickens by the legs causes significant pain and distress, and injuries such as fractures and dislocations. When chickens are inverted they can suffocate, as their internal organs begin to crush their lungs, which are not protected by a diaphragm, the charity says. It claims that the consultation carried out before the law was changed did not meet the requirement of fairness."

Carrying chickens by their legs during transport-related operations has been allowed in England, Wales and Scotland since a statutory instrument took effect on 22 July. The practice was previously forbidden under European regulations. The Animal Law Foundation says handling chickens by the legs causes significant pain, distress and injuries including fractures, dislocations and suffocation when inverted. The charity alleges the government weakened protections instead of enforcing existing rules and that the pre-change consultation prejudged the outcome and failed to fairly consider welfare detriment and enforcement solutions. A high court judge granted permission to proceed with a legal challenge.

Read at www.theguardian.com