The British Poultry Council has launched its own manifesto ahead of May's European Parliament elections.
The association is calling on all U.K. candidates to see themselves as facilitators of growth for the U.K. poultry market, and to take forward 12 priorities over four key themes into the next parliamentary term.
Regarding food quality, the BPC says that candidates should safeguard consumer confidence in food quality by defending hygiene standards, microbiological inspections and better labeling.
Where sustainable production is concerned, candidates are being encouraged to be champions of intensive poultry production, to support its development and to promote genetically modified technology and the responsible use of feed.
Regarding animal health and welfare, candidates are urged to continue to lead on promoting animal welfare in other countries and the implementation of risk based regulation, along with supporting self-regulation for compliant companies.
In terms of the EU and the global marketplace, parliamentary candidates should support market access to enable exports of poultry meat and to review and, where possible, reduce the cost of regulation on the industry and insist that foreign imports meet the standards set by EU products.
