Regional updates
Board members reported that members in their regions had raised concerns about:
- the volume of Ukrainian eggs and poultry meat imports
- planning and permitting delays
- access to AI insurance for non-assured poultry producers.聽
All of the above are already on the radar of the NFU poultry team. Updates will be shared accordingly as new information comes to light.
Full board minutes will be available to NFU members on request once they have been signed off by the board at the next meeting.
Poultry catching and handling
皇家华人legal team briefed the board on the latest situation regarding the proposed Judicial Review by the Animal Law Foundation against Defra on the grounds that current legislation prohibits catching of any animal, including poultry, by the legs.
Defra has laid a Statutory Instrument in parliament to change the law on 22 July to allow catching by two legs and prohibit catching by one leg.
Board members discussed the impact this would have on poultry producers and processors and agreed that urgent engagement with Defra was needed which is being actioned.聽
NFU Communications update
NFU Head of Communications Sharon Hockley discussed how the NFU communications team can support the National Poultry Board's priorities.
It was agreed that board members would provide and encourage members in their regions to volunteer case studies and stories that the NFU can use to better communicate challenges and opportunities facing the sector to a wider audience.
Board members also agreed that collaboration on communication with other sector bodies (BPC and BEIC/BEIS) would be beneficial.
Poultry training requirements
Leroy Burrell from Poultec and Red Tractor's Sophie Elwes joined the board to discuss current training standards and the challenges members are reporting with meeting them.
It was proposed that the NFU should provide an additional farmer to sit on the British Poultry Training management committee, and a review of short course content would also take place.
Red Tractor agreed to provide updated guidance on the requirements for a Level 2 Diploma and to confirm in writing how members go about securing a suitable agreement with RT/Certification Body if they need an extension to comply.
Planning reform roundtable
NFU Chief Poultry Adviser Aimee Mahony recently attended a planning roundtable with the farming minister.
Case studies of planning issues experienced by poultry producers are needed to help demonstrate our asks for planning reform.
Board members agreed to gather at least one case study from each NFU region.
Farming Rules for Water
Following a rapid review of the statutory guidance on FRfW (Farming Rules for Water), Defra has published new guidance which continues to allow autumn spreading of manures to land subject to operators being able to demonstrate a crop need for nutrients via a nutrient management plan.
Defra is now reforming water quality regulations and an NFU Task and Finish group will be set up to gather member views from each sector to feed into the process.聽
Get more information on Farming Rules for Water.
Groceries Code Adjudicator consultation
皇家华人is responding to a review of the GCA (Groceries Code Adjudicator) and gathering member feedback.
The board agreed that the GCA and ASCA (Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator) should be merged under one department so that fairness can be monitored across the whole supply chain.
皇家华人will ask Defra to pause the egg sector fair dealings review until the outcome of the GCA review has been published and will also seek timelines on a broiler sector review which was agreed by the previous government.
Use of cages in the laying hen sector
Following a recent Westminster Hall debate on the use of cages for farmed animals, NGO pressure is increasing on the laying hen sector to transition away from enriched colony cages.
The pig sector has set out a commitment to transition away from the use of farrowing crates and board members were asked to gather views from their regions on what the NFU position should be on the future of enriched colony cages for egg production.
Defra profitability review
Following feedback from each sector board, the NFU is finalising its response to Defra鈥檚 farming profitability review, which is being led by former NFU President, Baroness Batters.
Each sector has been asked for three priority areas. The board agreed that for poultry these are:
- Notifiable disease strategy
- Planning reform
- Fairness in the supply chain
Egg marketing inspectors
Aimee Mahony outlined a request from the APHA who will be seeking views on its guidance document for EMIs (egg marketing inspectors).
This follows a recent court case where the judge dismissed all charges against the egg packing business which were made by the APHA.
NFU members will be asked to feed into the response once we have sight of the document, expected sometime in August.
