It was a decision that immediately led to accusations of "gold-plating" of EU rules by industry leaders, who said that DEFRA had ignored the results of good quality research that it had commissioned and paid for itself.

 

In late December DEFRA made a final decision on stocking densities for broilers after the period of consultation that took place during 2009. It intends to allow densities up to the new EU standard maximum of 39kg/sq m.

 

However, the government department is not going to permit higher stocking densities of up to 42kg/sq m, which will be allowed in the rest of the EU for those units that can demonstrate the highest standards of welfare.

 

At present there is no legal maximum stocking density for conventionally reared broilers either in the UK or in the EU as a whole. The new EU Directive is imposing stocking limits for the first time, and comes into force on 30 June this year. The DEFRA decision only applies to England and different standards could apply in the rest of the UK.

 

National Farmers' Union, poultry board chairman Charles Bourns said it was a shame that DEFRA had chosen to gold- plate an EU Directive: "I didn't think the government believed in gold- plating," he said.

 

However, on the positive side, he was pleased that the minister had not chosen to set a lower limit. The current standard for Assured chicken production was 38kg/sq m and by permitting a legal limit of 39kg, it meant that there was a safety margin if flocks overshot their target weights because of operational reasons such as a delayed collection.

 

"The industry will now be able to function as it has to date, without any risk that growers might be breaking the law."

 

The new rules would also improve competitiveness against other EU countries, he said, where stocking densities can commonly be 48kg/sq m or even higher.