Compassion In World Farming (CIWF) Ireland has rejected as unacceptable new regulations agreed by the EU governing the production of broiler chickens for meat production.
The main provision of the EU directive, agreed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers this week, was to reduce the overcrowding of chickens by setting a maximum stocking density of 33kg per sq m or 39kg per sq m if stricter welfare standards are met.
The legislation also laid down a number of conditions to ensure better animal welfare such as lighting, litter, feeding and ventilation requirements. These must be introduced by 2010.
Markos Kyprianou, the European Commissioner for Health, said EU consumers had repeatedly expressed concern at the welfare problems that could arise through intensive chicken farming.
He said the directive brought in important rules for the animal welfare of broilers which would result in better animal welfare across Europe. He added that it would also contribute to improving the health of the birds and the quality of their meat.
However, CIWF Ireland said the laying down of minimum rules for the protection of chickens did almost nothing to improve the welfare of the five billion chickens reared annually in the EU.
"The directive allows birds to be stocked at a density of 39kg per square metre, which is about 18 birds per square metre of floor space," said Mary Anne Bartlett of CIWF Ireland.
She said about 67 million chickens here were reared for meat each year. The vast majority of these were reared in indoor-intensive systems.
"We urge Irish consumers to choose the more welfare-friendly option of Irish free-range or organic chicken," she added.