Mark Oaten: To as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department is to give farmers on the interpretation of Council Directive 2007/43/EC on poultry stocking density.
Jonathan Shaw: Council Directive 2007/43/EC on the protection of meat chickens will come into force on 30 June 2010. The Directive will be implemented in England through an amendment to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007. The devolved administrations will similarly transpose the Directive in their legislation. As with all new legislation, appropriate guidance will be issued. The legislation and associated guidance will be the subject of a full public consultation exercise.
Mark Oaten