By Tony Goodger, head of communications, AIMS
At 2pm, 2 July 2025, the government, which, let’s remember, is currently looking into farm profitability, used a parliamentary procedure called a Statutory Instrument (SI) to implement changes to the regulations on bird catching in the hen and broiler sectors.
In line with SIs this will change legislation 21 days after publication.
On Tuesday 22 July 2025, the following will become law:
“The prohibition in point (d) on lifting the animals by the legs does not apply to birds of the species Gallus Gullus or turkeys.
In the case of birds of the species Gallus Gallus, and turkeys weighing 5kg or less, it is prohibited to catch, lift or carry any such bird by taking hold of or holding its legs unless both of its legs are taken hold of or held at the same time.
In the case of turkeys weighing more than 5kg, it is prohibited to lift or carry any such bird in an inverted position, whether by holding the bird by the legs or otherwise.”.
These Regulations extend to England, Wales, and Scotland.
The decision to implement the SI is linked to the recent consultation, ‘Poultry catching and handling: proposed changes to permitted methods’, which ran between the 10 March and 30 June 2025.
The Defra release on the consultation outcome noted that they received 103 responses and that as a result, they “will amend the law to allow chickens and turkeys to be lifted by their legs, in-line with the existing Great Britain statutory guidance”.
It is of note that the consultation was written in such a manner that it ignored the most common means of capture, namely single legged.
AIMS spoke with our poultry members which include catching businesses and whilst some already operate two-legged catching others use the single legged method.
Defra’s consultation response continued saying that they had commissioned a new £500k commercial poultry catching and handling study is aiming to improve the welfare of farmed birds throughout Britain.
This study is being led by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the University of Bristol, the comprehensive collaboration between academic research teams, industry, Humane Slaughter Association, and a poultry veterinary consultant is set to take place over three years and will collect data from over 100 commercial poultry flocks, leading to best practise for poultry wellbeing.
However, there is no mention of collecting information from the catching companies who surely are best placed to provide outcome data at the point of delivery to the abattoir. Why?
At a time when Defra are looking into farm profitability, 21 days’ notice to amend legislation simply is not long enough for businesses to recruit, train and adapt their on- site operations to comply.
What is more, there will be an increased cost to catching which no doubt will have to be covered by the farmer.
It is our belief that any changes to the method of catching commercially raised birds should be informed by the 3 year research project and not by what appears to be undue haste through an SI which we believe needs to be annulled.
I am sure that there are lots of other pieces of legislation that could be amended by Statutory Instrument within 21 days such as issues which continue to impact on sub-postmasters but clearly there isn’t any political will to do that whereas when it comes to farming…
I am biting my tongue.