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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 20 July 2026 to Question UIN HL1988, what the results were of the commercial in-ovo sexing trial which took place last year in a UK hatchery.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 20 July 2026 to Question UIN HL1988, what the results were of the commercial in-ovo sexing trial which took place last year in a UK hatchery.
The Government understands that this activity did not constitute a commercial-scale trial but rather the trial of a small, commercially available unit to help the egg industry better understand the operation of the technology and any logistical constraints relating to its installation. We are not aware of any industry proposals for future trials involving this or any other in-ovo sexing technology.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds compared with slower-growing breeds on welfare; and whether she plans to develop a pathway to phase out the use of fast-growing breeds in favour...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds compared with slower-growing breeds on welfare; and whether she plans to develop a pathway to phase out the use of fast-growing breeds in favour...
The Government has considered the findings from the Defra-funded Systematic Review of Evidence on Livestock Breeding, conducted by Queen’s University Belfast, on the potential welfare implications of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds compared to slower growing breeds. As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the UK egg industry about the merits of existing egg-sexing technologies for ending the culling of male chicks.
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the UK egg industry about the merits of existing egg-sexing technologies for ending the culling of male chicks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the forthcoming poultry growth strategy will support a transition away from intensive animal agriculture towards prioritising animal welfare, environmental and public health.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the forthcoming poultry growth strategy will support a transition away from intensive animal agriculture towards prioritising animal welfare, environmental and public health.
The Poultry Sector Growth Plan is being developed by industry, with Government acting as a convenor and supporting the process. It is intended to identify how the sector can improve productivity, profitability and resilience while operating within the UK's environmental, planning, animal welfare and regulatory framework. Any proposals emerging from the plan would continue to be subject to existing planning, environmental and regulatory requirements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what consideration was given to farming staff, particularly growers, when amending the national living ways increases, (b) what steps is her Department taking to give growers the confidence to invest in their businesses, and (c) can she...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what consideration was given to farming staff, particularly growers, when amending the national living ways increases, (b) what steps is her Department taking to give growers the confidence to invest in their businesses, and (c) can she...
The Low Pay Commission provides recommendations to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade on the National Living Wage. It considers evidence from farmers, worker’s representatives and other employers when assessing the impact of National Living Wage increases on business costs, competitiveness, employment and the wider labour market.
The Farming Roadmap sets out a clear plan to 2050 and the practical steps to be taken in partnership with the industry. The Sector Growth Plans being developed by sector experts, starting with horticulture and poultry, will add further detail and should boost business confidence to invest.
The 2027 Seasonal Worker visa allocations for the horticulture sector was confirmed this month as 41,000 - the same as 2026. This timely announcement gives growers and operators good time to plan for the year ahead. The poultry allocation in 2027 will be 1,900 in line with sector needs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has measures in place to help ensure poultry farms are reliably supplied with power in the event of an electricity shortage.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has measures in place to help ensure poultry farms are reliably supplied with power in the event of an electricity shortage.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to restrict the importation of Brazilian beef and chicken.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to restrict the importation of Brazilian beef and chicken.
Defra is working as quickly as possible to assess Brazilian production systems to ensure that beef and chicken from animals treated with certain antimicrobial products are not exported to Great Britain and is keeping trade restrictions under review. The assessment will include an urgent in-country audit. Sanitary and phytosanitary trade measures must be evidence-based and proportionate in line with World Trade Organization rules.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider introducing mandatory restrictions if voluntary measures to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds do not deliver adequate improvements in animal welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider introducing mandatory restrictions if voluntary measures to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds do not deliver adequate improvements in animal welfare.
The Government will continue supporting voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds and is not currently considering a ban on these breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets and timescales her Department plans to use to assess progress towards a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets and timescales her Department plans to use to assess progress towards a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
As stated in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government supports voluntary efforts to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds. Whilst no specific timescale has been set, the Government aims to progress the commitments in the Strategy by 2030.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in what way the Animal Welfare Committee’s advice on breeding will inform the assessment of targets and timescales on a voluntary move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
The Government will draw upon the wide-ranging advice within the Animal Welfare Committee’s recent report on livestock breeding in all upcoming work. The report did not however provide an in-depth assessment of the welfare status of fast-growing breeds of meat chickens.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC (a) holds or (b) has at any time held, a copy of the Revenue Commissioners’ report entitled Operation of the Flat‑Rate Addition Scheme for Farmers in the Poultry Industry, published July 2019.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HMRC (a) holds or (b) has at any time held, a copy of the Revenue Commissioners’ report entitled Operation of the Flat‑Rate Addition Scheme for Farmers in the Poultry Industry, published July 2019.
HMRC is not aware of holding, or ever having held, a copy of the Revenue Commissioners’ report entitled Operation of the Flat‑Rate Addition Scheme for Farmers in the Poultry Industry, published July 2019.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her department has made of the scale of the use of fast-growing chicken breeds in the UK, both in terms of UK farming and UK retail sales.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her department has made of the scale of the use of fast-growing chicken breeds in the UK, both in terms of UK farming and UK retail sales.
Current estimates are that around 95% of meat chickens in the UK are fast growing breeds. The Department has not assessed the scale of the use of fast-growing chicken breeds in the UK in terms of UK retail sales.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further legislative actions her Department is considering to mandate or ban the use of specific breeds of chicken in UK farming.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further legislative actions her Department is considering to mandate or ban the use of specific breeds of chicken in UK farming.
There are currently no plans to mandate or ban the use of specific breeds of chicken. As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the government is considering how it can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of differences in animal welfare and meat quality between UK-grown chickens and imported chicken meat sold in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of differences in animal welfare and meat quality between UK-grown chickens and imported chicken meat sold in the UK.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds. The Department has not made such assessments of comparison between UK-grown chickens and chickens reared abroad.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of UK-grown chickens in comparison with those farmed in other countries, particularly with regards to 1) animal welfare, 2) animal lifespan and premature mortality, and 3) food quality implications for humans on...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of UK-grown chickens in comparison with those farmed in other countries, particularly with regards to 1) animal welfare, 2) animal lifespan and premature mortality, and 3) food quality implications for humans on...
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds. The Department has not made such assessments of comparison between UK-grown chickens and chickens reared abroad.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the poultry growth plan (a) takes into account the pollution in water reduction proposals and (b) aims to improve chicken welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the poultry growth plan (a) takes into account the pollution in water reduction proposals and (b) aims to improve chicken welfare.
The Poultry Sector Growth Plan is being developed by industry, supported by the Government, to identify opportunities for the sector to improve its productivity and profitability. There is clear demand for high quality, domestically produced chicken meat and eggs. The plan will identify ways that enable our domestic poultry sector to meet this challenge sustainably and in line with key government policies such as the Animal Welfare Strategy, Farming Roadmap and Environmental Improvement Plan 2025. In doing so we will be strengthening our national food security whilst balancing broader environmental, animal welfare and food security objectives.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is her timeline for ending the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is her timeline for ending the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
The Government wishes to encourage the egg industry to end the practice of killing day-old chicks but no timeline for the transition has been established.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data the Department holds on mortality, lameness and culling rates in conventional broiler flocks in England in each of the last five years; and what steps the Department is taking to reduce the routine prophylactic use of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data the Department holds on mortality, lameness and culling rates in conventional broiler flocks in England in each of the last five years; and what steps the Department is taking to reduce the routine prophylactic use of...
The Government does not hold such data on lameness and culling rates in conventional broiler flocks in England. The government receives data from the Food Standards Agency on Cumulative Daily Mortality Rates (CDMR) for broiler chickens.
The Average Yearly CDMR was 3.57% in 2020, 3.65% in 2021, 3.76% in 2022, 3.53% in 2023, 3.39% in 2024, 3.38% in 2025. The figure for 2023 represents the period of 1 April to 31 December, this is the only Average Yearly CDMR data that the government holds for that year.
The Government is committed to reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics in animals while safeguarding animal welfare. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations prohibit the routine use of antibiotics to compensate for inadequate husbandry, management or biosecurity, and restrict prophylactic antibiotic use to exceptional circumstances only, under veterinary oversight and subject to additional legal requirements. We continue to work closely with the poultry sector to promote high standards of biosecurity, disease prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report Sustainable Alternatives to Culled Chicks as Captive Raptor and Reptile Feed published by the Vegetarian Society UK on 4 June 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the report Sustainable Alternatives to Culled Chicks as Captive Raptor and Reptile Feed published by the Vegetarian Society UK on 4 June 2026.
This Government will consider the Vegetarian Society UK’s report on alternative feed sources for raptors and reptiles as part of its work to work towards seeing an end the practice of culling male laying hen chicks.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the EU ban from 3 September on imports of Brazilian beef and chicken on (1) the volume of imports into the UK, (2) returns to British farmers, and (3) antimicrobial resistance.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the EU ban from 3 September on imports of Brazilian beef and chicken on (1) the volume of imports into the UK, (2) returns to British farmers, and (3) antimicrobial resistance.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large intensive chicken farms on human health, environmental standards, and animal welfare.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large intensive chicken farms on human health, environmental standards, and animal welfare.
The Environment Agency assesses the environmental risk through the assessment of environmental permits to protect habitats from air pollution, and compliance with regulations to protect land and water. Measures are checked through regular compliance inspections.
There are a number of different farming systems in use in England and farms of all sizes have a role to play in promoting sustainable agriculture. All farms, regardless of size and type of production system, must comply with comprehensive legislation aimed at protecting animal health and welfare. The Government remains firmly committed to improving animal welfare and wants to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. Ministers recently met with several representatives of various farming sectors to discuss the Animal Welfare Strategy. This outlines the Government’s plans to improve farm animal welfare including through transitioning away from intensive confinement systems such as cages or crates.
Ammonia from poultry farms contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution concentrations across the country. The precise contribution is difficult to assess and will vary according to the prevailing weather conditions and other sources of PM2.5. Long term exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with a number of serious health conditions. Intensive poultry farms with a capacity of 40,000 poultry places or more require a permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, to control their emissions into the environment.
Where animal welfare is impacted by farming practices, this can lead to increased health risks to humans through either the food chain, direct animal contact or through environmental contamination. For gastrointestinal disease this can occur through increased shedding of human pathogens where animals are at heightened stress, such as Salmonella spp and Campylobacter spp. Increased shedding of bacteria can also increase the risk antimicrobial resistance can spread.
Any individual exposed to positive detections of HPAI in poultry will be managed according to UKHSA’s public health guidance. Guidance for the management of people exposed to birds or other animals infected with influenza A(H5) - GOV.UK (copy attached).
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to enforce the commitment made in the Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, to end the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to enforce the commitment made in the Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, to end the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, this Government would like to see an end to the practice of culling male chicks. The Government is monitoring the rapid progress currently being made with in-ovo sexing and has funded research into the use of dual breed chickens that remove the need to kill male chicks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to end the use of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds in UK poultry production.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to end the use of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds in UK poultry production.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 118907.
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the UK egg industry about implementing a trial of in-ovo sexing technology to prevent the culling of male chicks; and when they anticipate such a trial to take place.
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the UK egg industry about implementing a trial of in-ovo sexing technology to prevent the culling of male chicks; and when they anticipate such a trial to take place.
A commercial in-ovo sexing system was trialed at a UK hatchery last year to help the egg industry understand the logistics of in-ovo sexing. This Government will engage with the egg industry and technology companies on this issue.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of intensive factory farming of chickens, and whether there are plans to further regulate this sector with regards to animal welfare.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of intensive factory farming of chickens, and whether there are plans to further regulate this sector with regards to animal welfare.
All farms, regardless of size and type of production system, must comply with legislation on animal health and welfare. The Government remains firmly committed to improving animal welfare and wants to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The Animal Welfare Strategy outlines government’s plans to improve farm animal welfare including through transitioning away from intensive confinement systems such as cages and encourage efforts to move away from fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Court of Appeal ruling in December 2024 on the welfare of fast-growing chickens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Court of Appeal ruling in December 2024 on the welfare of fast-growing chickens.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 July 2026 to the hon. Member for North Devon, PQ UIN 17121.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of compliance with animal welfare standards in commercial poultry production.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of compliance with animal welfare standards in commercial poultry production.
The Government remains firmly committed to maintaining high animal welfare standards. Compliance with animal welfare standards is monitored by Defra’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) who conduct inspections to check that animal welfare standards are being met. Further details of results of inspections and trigger report analysis is published in the MANCP report which details findings from previous years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risk of increased imports of lower-welfare eggs following domestic reforms to housing systems for laying hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risk of increased imports of lower-welfare eggs following domestic reforms to housing systems for laying hens.
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
This Government will always consider whether overseas goods benefit from an unfair advantage and any impact on UK producers. Where necessary, the Government will use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal, including permanent quotas, exclusions and safeguards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Government plans to introduce measures to prevent the import of a) eggs, b) liquid eggs and c) powdered eggs produced in systems that are banned in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether Government plans to introduce measures to prevent the import of a) eggs, b) liquid eggs and c) powdered eggs produced in systems that are banned in the UK.
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
This Government will always consider whether overseas goods benefit from an unfair advantage and any impact on UK producers. Where necessary, the Government will use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal, including permanent quotas, exclusions and safeguards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps will be taken to ensure that imports of eggs, liquid eggs and powdered eggs meet UK animal welfare standards, in the context of any phase-out of caged systems domestically.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps will be taken to ensure that imports of eggs, liquid eggs and powdered eggs meet UK animal welfare standards, in the context of any phase-out of caged systems domestically.
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
This Government will always consider whether overseas goods benefit from an unfair advantage and any impact on UK producers. Where necessary, the Government will use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal, including permanent quotas, exclusions and safeguards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government will publish the findings of its consultation on a proposed ban on keeping a) laying hens, b) pullets and c) breeder layers in cages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government will publish the findings of its consultation on a proposed ban on keeping a) laying hens, b) pullets and c) breeder layers in cages.
A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is now analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support will be made available from Government to support a transition away from enriched cages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support will be made available from Government to support a transition away from enriched cages.
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to support the transition away from enriched cages. The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, which closed to final applications on 28 April 2026, provides funding contributions towards infrastructure projects for commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England to refurbish or replace housing, including for those moving from colony cages to high-welfare non-cage systems. Additionally, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its fourth and final round on 12 May this year, offered grants up to £25,000 for equipment and technology to support higher welfare production. We continue to work with industry and wider stakeholders on how the Pathway can encourage cage free systems of farming.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether further supported welfare improvements for laying hens will be incorporated into the UK Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether further supported welfare improvements for laying hens will be incorporated into the UK Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to improve welfare in laying hens. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its fourth and final round on 12 May this year, has offered grants up to £25,000 for equipment and technology to support higher welfare production. Earlier this year, we also announced funding to deliver on-farm Poultry Biosecurity Reviews, which launched on 2 June 2026, to build resilience against Avian Influenza and other threats. We continue to work with industry on how the Pathway can support high standards of animal welfare including simplifying and rationalising any grant funding from 2027 onwards.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect day-zero egg sexing technologies to be commercially available to the UK egg industry.
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect day-zero egg sexing technologies to be commercially available to the UK egg industry.
The Government recognises the benefits of day-zero sexing technology and will engage with technology companies and the egg industry to fully understand the merits of all systems and when they may become commercially available.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his department plans to take in response to the consultation on the use of cages and crates for laying hens which closed on 9 March 2026.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his department plans to take in response to the consultation on the use of cages and crates for laying hens which closed on 9 March 2026.
The Government is analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing financial support for the introduction of egg sexing technologies to help prevent the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing financial support for the introduction of egg sexing technologies to help prevent the culling of male chicks in the egg industry.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy for England (see attached), this Government is committed to encouraging industry to end the practice of male chick culling. While there are no current plans to provide direct financial support for the introduction of egg sexing technologies, Defra has funded research into dual breed chicken use which removes the need to kill male chicks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether further supported welfare improvements for laying hens will be incorporated into the UK Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether further supported welfare improvements for laying hens will be incorporated into the UK Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to improve welfare in laying hens. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its final round on 12 May, offered grants up to £25,000 for equipment and technology for higher welfare production. Earlier this year, Defra announced funding to deliver on-farm Poultry Biosecurity Reviews, expected to launch summer 2026, to build resilience against Avian Influenza and other threats. Defra continues to work with industry on how the Pathway can support high standards of animal welfare including simplifying and rationalising any grant funding from 2027 onwards.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to regulate captive-reared mallard releases to reduce the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza to (1) wild birds, and (2) poultry.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to regulate captive-reared mallard releases to reduce the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza to (1) wild birds, and (2) poultry.
A 2024 Natural England risk review [see attached] concluded that there is a very high likelihood that captive-reared mallards will be exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 after release. Once exposed, there is a very high likelihood of widespread morbidity and mortality in wild birds. The review concludes that captive-reared juvenile mallards have potential to act as both a reservoir and amplifier of H5N1 and to play a major role in H5N1’s continued persistence and dissemination.
The release of captive-reared mallards is already prohibited in Protection Zones, Surveillance Zone and Captive Bird Monitoring Controlled Zones. Releases are also prohibited in Avian Influenza Prevention Zones with housing measures.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a habitats regulations assessment has been carried out for the release of mallards into Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation, given the risks of highly pathogenic avian influenza they present to wild birds.
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a habitats regulations assessment has been carried out for the release of mallards into Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation, given the risks of highly pathogenic avian influenza they present to wild birds.
Defra is not aware that a habitats regulations assessment (HRA) has been carried out for the release of Mallards (for shooting) on Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in England.
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the Natural England report The risks from H5N1 to wild birds from captive-reared mallard, published on 24 June 2024, what assessment they have made of the need to regulate captive-reared mallard releases to reduce high pathogenicity avian influenza risk to (1) wild birds, and...
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the Natural England report The risks from H5N1 to wild birds from captive-reared mallard, published on 24 June 2024, what assessment they have made of the need to regulate captive-reared mallard releases to reduce high pathogenicity avian influenza risk to (1) wild birds, and...
This Government is considering the available evidence on the impacts of gamebird and mallard release and shooting in England, including Natural England’s report The risks from H5N1 to wild birds from captive-reared mallard, published on 24 June 2024. This Government will also engage with the sector and other stakeholder groups as this work progresses. This work is helping to inform consideration of whether further measures, including licensing, may be needed in relation to the release of captive-reared birds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of a) market conditions and b) input costs for the poultry sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of a) market conditions and b) input costs for the poultry sector.
The Government continues to work closely with all livestock sectors as they face higher input costs particularly for fuel, energy, and fertiliser.
At the March 2026 meeting of the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG), Defra and the Devolved Governments decided to closely monitor the price and availability of these key inputs in light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The UKAMMG monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments including international conflicts and extended unfavourable weather. The Group meets monthly, enabling it to provide forewarning of any atypical market movements.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the commercial viability of 'day-zero' systems where genetically edited breeding hens ensure only female layer chicks hatch, eliminating the need for male chick culling in the egg industry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the commercial viability of 'day-zero' systems where genetically edited breeding hens ensure only female layer chicks hatch, eliminating the need for male chick culling in the egg industry.
As stated in the recently published Animal Welfare Strategy Defra will encourage industry to end the practice of culling male laying hen chicks. In recent years there has been rapid global progress in a range of technologies that could help end the routine culling of male chicks by identifying or determining the sex of chick embryos before hatching as set out in the Animal Welfare Committee’s ‘Opinion on alternatives to culling newly hatched chicks in the egg and poultry industries’. Whilst ‘day-zero’ systems are not yet commercially viable, Defra continues to follow developments in the space closely.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with animal welfare organisations on the potential merits of prohibiting the import of eggs produced using caged systems for laying hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with animal welfare organisations on the potential merits of prohibiting the import of eggs produced using caged systems for laying hens.
The Department has had wide ranging discussions with animal welfare organisations and other stakeholders on laying hen cage reform, including conversations relating to egg imports.
As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will bring forward legislation to ban the use of enriched cages for laying hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will bring forward legislation to ban the use of enriched cages for laying hens.
A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is carefully analysing the consultation responses, and the next steps will be announced when the analysis is completed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his plan for a Poultry Sector Growth Plan, what assessment he has made of the potential health risks of air pollution linked to ammonia emissions from poultry facilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his plan for a Poultry Sector Growth Plan, what assessment he has made of the potential health risks of air pollution linked to ammonia emissions from poultry facilities.
Ammonia from poultry farms contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution concentrations across the country. The precise contribution is difficult to assess and will vary according to the prevailing weather conditions and other sources of PM2.5. Long term exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with a number of serious health conditions. Intensive poultry farms with a capacity of 40,000 poultry places or more require a permit under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, to control their emissions into the environment.
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of those releasing gamebirds under licence in England on (1) special areas of conservation, and (2) special protection areas, or within 500 metres of their boundaries, have registered their birds on the poultry register.
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of those releasing gamebirds under licence in England on (1) special areas of conservation, and (2) special protection areas, or within 500 metres of their boundaries, have registered their birds on the poultry register.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) can identify the number of gamebird locations recorded on the poultry register within Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and within 500 metres of their boundaries. However, this Government does not hold details of those releasing gamebirds under licence in a form that allows the percentage requested to be calculated.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made for the implications for her policies of recent bans on male chick culling in (a) Germany, (b) France and (c) Austria.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made for the implications for her policies of recent bans on male chick culling in (a) Germany, (b) France and (c) Austria.
The Government is aware of the strong public feeling on the culling of male chicks. The Animal Welfare Strategy for England, published in December 2025, sets out that the Government would like to see an end to the practice of killing day-old chicks and is committed to encouraging industry to end the practice. The Government pays close attention to international precedent when formulating its policies.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with The Humane League UK on the banning of cages for laying hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with The Humane League UK on the banning of cages for laying hens.
The Department has had wide ranging discussions with animal welfare organisations and other stakeholders on the banning of cages for laying hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the British Veterinary Association's press release entitled British Veterinary Association calls for an end to all cages for laying hens, published on 27 April 2026, whether her Department has made an assessment of recent research...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the British Veterinary Association's press release entitled British Veterinary Association calls for an end to all cages for laying hens, published on 27 April 2026, whether her Department has made an assessment of recent research...
The Department continues to consider the latest scientific research and evidence to improve the welfare of farmed animals, including laying hens. A UK-wide consultation, on a proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is now analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of Ukraine's implementation of improvements to animal welfare standards for livestock, including a ban on battery cages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of Ukraine's implementation of improvements to animal welfare standards for livestock, including a ban on battery cages.
Under the Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029, except for poultry and eggs, where the liberalisation is due to end on 31 March 2028.
The Government has consistently raised the importance of animal welfare standards with the Ukrainian Government, which has assured that all Ukrainian companies currently exporting animal products to the UK fully comply with existing EU animal welfare requirements, including the ban on battery cages for laying hens as set out in Directive 1999/74/EC.
Ukraine is making steps to improve its animal welfare standards. As of 1 January 2026, new welfare standards for livestock were introduced in Ukraine, including on the implementation of a ban on battery cages, and improving housing and treatment for livestock.
The UK will continue to engage with Ukraine on the implementation of improvements to production standards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps will be taken to ensure that imports of eggs, liquid eggs and powdered eggs meet UK animal welfare standards, in the context of any phase-out of caged systems domestically.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps will be taken to ensure that imports of eggs, liquid eggs and powdered eggs meet UK animal welfare standards, in the context of any phase-out of caged systems domestically.
I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend for PQ UIN 120331.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support will be made available from Government to support a transition away from enriched cages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support will be made available from Government to support a transition away from enriched cages.
Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to support transitioning from enriched cages. The Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, which closed to applications on 28 April, provides funding contributions towards infrastructure projects for commercial laying hen and pullet keepers in England to refurbish or replace housing, including for those moving from colony cages to high-welfare non-cage systems. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed 12 May, offered grants up to £25,000 for equipment and technology for higher welfare production. The Government continues to work with industry and wider stakeholders on how the Pathway can encourage cage-free farming.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking across procurement policy, food service, and manufacturing supply chains to ensure that improved domestic welfare standards are not undermined by the use of imported lower-welfare egg products.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking across procurement policy, food service, and manufacturing supply chains to ensure that improved domestic welfare standards are not undermined by the use of imported lower-welfare egg products.
The National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February, underscores the Government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards, supporting local suppliers and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts. This includes sourcing products from all farmed animals which have been raised to high UK welfare standards as defined in current animal welfare legislation.
As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at its disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that any ban on caged systems for laying hens is accompanied by equivalent trade measures which prevent the import of eggs and egg products produced to lower welfare standards than...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that any ban on caged systems for laying hens is accompanied by equivalent trade measures which prevent the import of eggs and egg products produced to lower welfare standards than...
I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend for PQ UIN 120331.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risk of increased imports of lower-welfare eggs following domestic reforms to housing systems for laying hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the risk of increased imports of lower-welfare eggs following domestic reforms to housing systems for laying hens.
I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend for PQ UIN 120331.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban the import of any poultry, eggs or other poultry by-products that were produced using any type of cage system for the keeping of poultry.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban the import of any poultry, eggs or other poultry by-products that were produced using any type of cage system for the keeping of poultry.
This Government shares the public’s high regard for the UK’s environmental protections, food standards and animal welfare.
Imports into the UK must comply with UK’s existing import requirements. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.
This Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at its disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government will publish the findings of its consultation on a proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Government will publish the findings of its consultation on a proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 31 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West, PQ UIN 122785.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce legislation to ban the keeping of laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce legislation to ban the keeping of laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages.
The Animal Welfare Strategy (see attached) states that ending the use of cages is a key priority for this Government. A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. This consultation sought views on a proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages. This Government is now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their procurement policy regarding priority for British produced chicken in food and catering contracts.
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their procurement policy regarding priority for British produced chicken in food and catering contracts.
The Government is open to considering all lawful means of achieving its ambition that half of all food purchased across the public sector should be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards.
The Government wants British farmers and producers to be well‑placed to bid for a fair share of the £5 billion spent each year on public sector food and catering contracts.
The Government has already published a new national procurement policy statement.
It sets expectations for Government contracts to favour products certified to high environmental standards that we think high-quality British producers are well-placed to meet.
Given the limited information on the origin and sustainability of food in the public sector supply chain, Defra has begun collecting new data to understand how far public sector settings are serving food, including chicken, from local and sustainable sources and what further action is needed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the levels of imported chicken products from China since July 2024.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the levels of imported chicken products from China since July 2024.
All agri-food products must comply with our sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. While poultry imports from China to the UK are permitted they are subject to stricter, updated certification requirements as of December 2024, requiring approved premises.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the level of ammonia pollution from poultry farming.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the level of ammonia pollution from poultry farming.
Large intensive poultry farms with livestock place numbers above specified size thresholds are regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. The operators of these farms must hold a permit which requires implementation of best available techniques to reduce pollutant emissions, including ammonia. Regulated premises are regularly inspected to ensure compliance with permit conditions. BAT is reviewed periodically which delivers continuous improvement in environmental performance.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the UK's chicken supply was imported from China in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the UK's chicken supply was imported from China in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.
Defra publishes quarterly data on poultry meat production, trade and supplies on GOV.UK (Latest cattle, sheep and pig slaughter statistics - GOV.UK). Data is not available specifically for imports and supply of chicken meat. Annual data on total poultry meat imports from China as a proportion of total UK poultry meat supplies is provided in the table below.
Table 1: Total poultry meat imports from China as a proportion of total UK poultry meat supplies, thousand tonnes dressed carcase weight equivalent (th tonnes dcw)
Year | UK total new poultry meat supply (th tonnes dcw) | UK imports of poultry meat from China1 (th tonnes dcw) | UK imports of poultry meat from China1 as a % of total new supply |
2024 | 2,463.2 | 0.19 | 0.008% |
20252 | 2,552.2 | 0.07 | 0.003% |
Table Notes:
1) Imports from China have been defined on a Country of dispatch basis
2) Data for 2025 is provisional
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce ammonia emissions from intensive pig and poultry farming.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce ammonia emissions from intensive pig and poultry farming.
Large intensive pig and poultry farms with livestock place numbers above specified size thresholds are regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. The operators of these farms must hold a permit which requires implementation of best available techniques to reduce pollutant emissions, including ammonia. Regulated premises are regularly inspected to ensure compliance with permit conditions.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adding brent goose to Schedule 2(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adding brent goose to Schedule 2(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
The Government has recently launched a consultation on amending Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Though the thrust of the consultation is proposing to remove certain species from Schedule 2.1, or to extend the close seasons of others, the consultation proposes adding woodpigeon to Schedule 2.1 as it applies in England, Scotland and Wales. The consultation asks consultees if any other species should be added to Schedule 2.1 in England, Scotland or Wales, and for evidence or reasoning to support any such suggestions. If suggestions for brent goose being added to Schedule 2.1 are supported with compelling evidence or reasoning, the UK government will consider such a measure for England.
To ask His Majesty's Government why they propose to remove Goldeneye from Schedule 2(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act; and what evidence there is that shooting is impacting Goldeneye population and sustainability.
To ask His Majesty's Government why they propose to remove Goldeneye from Schedule 2(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act; and what evidence there is that shooting is impacting Goldeneye population and sustainability.
Natural England (NE) provided an evidence dossier for the goldeneye as part of a recent government consultation which proposes removing this species from Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in England. NE recommended that the Government should remove goldeneye from Schedule 2.1 to reduce the potential impact of hunting on the breeding and non-breeding populations, based on the precautionary principle, until more accurate data is available to show that recreational shooting can be managed on a sustainable basis. UK Government Ministers agreed with this assessment.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of shooting pressure on the European white-fronted goose in England and Wales on the overall population of the European white-fronted goose in Europe, in line with the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of shooting pressure on the European white-fronted goose in England and Wales on the overall population of the European white-fronted goose in Europe, in line with the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds.
The Government has not made an assessment of the impact of shooting pressure on the European white-fronted goose in England and Wales on the overall population of the European white-fronted goose in Europe. Natural England provided an evidence dossier for the European white-fronted goose as part of a recent government consultation which proposes removing this species from Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It states that the European white-fronted goose shooting take in England and Wales numbers less than 100 each year, based on research estimates.
The dossier also notes that numbers in Europe ‘appear to be stable’. Latest estimates suggest that the European population of European white-fronted goose totals 1–1.4 million individuals, whereas the British population totals 1,500 individuals. This offers some context to the relatively small proportion of the European population at risk of shooting pressure in England.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many European white-fronted geese have been shot at the Northumberland Wildlife Trust reserve Grindon Lough in the open season in each of the last ten years.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many European white-fronted geese have been shot at the Northumberland Wildlife Trust reserve Grindon Lough in the open season in each of the last ten years.
Natural England (NE) provided an evidence dossier for the European white-fronted goose as part of a recent government consultation. While the dossier notes Grindon Lough as a site where Greenland white-fronted geese overwinter, Grindon Lough is not an SSSI and neither NE nor the Government holds information on how many European white-fronted geese have been shot at this location in the open season in the last ten years.
To ask His Majesty's Government why they consider the removal of white-fronted geese from Schedule 2(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to be necessary to protect Greenland white-fronted geese.
To ask His Majesty's Government why they consider the removal of white-fronted geese from Schedule 2(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to be necessary to protect Greenland white-fronted geese.
Natural England provided an evidence dossier for the European white-fronted goose as part of a recent Government consultation which proposes removing this species from Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in England. The dossier concludes that such a removal would act as an additional safeguard for protecting (from accidental shooting) individuals of the population of globally endangered Greenland white-fronted goose occurring in England. UK Government Ministers agreed with this assessment.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Greenland white-fronted geese have been shot accidentally in England in the open season for European white-fronted goose in each of the last ten years.
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Greenland white-fronted geese have been shot accidentally in England in the open season for European white-fronted goose in each of the last ten years.
The Government does not hold information on how many Greenland white-fronted geese have been shot accidentally in England in the open season for European white-fronted geese in the last ten years. The published Conservation Brief for the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Greenland White-fronted Goose makes clear that “accidental take remains a risk in England where European whitefronts remain a quarry species.”
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department have taken to end the routine culling of male chicks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department have taken to end the routine culling of male chicks.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the extent to which chicken products from China are used to fulfil public procurement contracts in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the extent to which chicken products from China are used to fulfil public procurement contracts in the UK.
The Government remains committed to its ambition that half of all food served in public settings is either locally sourced or certified to higher environmental standards and is open to considering all lawful means of achieving this. The Government recognises that there is limited existing data about the origin and sustainability of food in the public sector supply chain and the data landscape is complex and fragmented. Public bodies are not required to report on the origin of the food they procure. However, the Government is currently assessing what food the public sector buys and where it comes from. In due course, this will provide us with detailed insights on the extent to which public sector settings are serving food, including chicken, from local and sustainable sources, and what more can be done.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of whether chicken products imported from China comply with UK food standards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of whether chicken products imported from China comply with UK food standards.
Imports into the UK must comply with our existing import requirements. While poultry imports from China to the UK are permitted they are subject to stricter, updated certification requirements as of December 2024, requiring approved premises.
Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.
While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases, and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of whether chicken products from China have been produced in compliance with UK animal welfare standards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of whether chicken products from China have been produced in compliance with UK animal welfare standards.
Imports into the UK must comply with our existing import requirements. While poultry imports from China to the UK are permitted they are subject to stricter, updated certification requirements as of December 2024, requiring approved premises.
Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.
While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases, and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department holds data on the quantity of chicken products imported from China in each month since July 2024.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department holds data on the quantity of chicken products imported from China in each month since July 2024.
Date | Number of Consignments | Total Net Weight |
Jul-24 | 170 | 2,585,700.29 |
Aug-24 | 261 | 4,015,899.31 |
Sep-24 | 280 | 3,961,455.90 |
Oct-24 | 214 | 3,053,346.90 |
Nov-24 | 250 | 4,052,208.76 |
Dec-24 | 197 | 2,879,896.97 |
Jan-25 | 250 | 3,656,965.02 |
Feb-25 | 215 | 3,081,240.87 |
Mar-25 | 290 | 4,255,461.46 |
Apr-25 | 239 | 3,765,926.54 |
May-25 | 263 | 3,998,849.32 |
Jun-25 | 283 | 4,172,640.20 |
Jul-25 | 300 | 4,270,514.57 |
Aug-25 | 373 | 5,353,145.81 |
Sep-25 | 320 | 4,173,131.59 |
Oct-25 | 293 | 4,314,525.73 |
Nov-25 | 381 | 5,222,383.73 |
Dec-25 | 297 | 4,171,925.29 |
Jan-26 | 353 | 5,139,804.74 |
Feb-26 | 391 | 5,754,842.52 |
Mar-26 | 474 | 7,055,846.71 |
The data provided relates to imports from China where the species is recorded as either Aves or Gallus. Where the species has been recorded as Aves, it is not possible to confirm that the product is chicken, due to the way species information is captured in the Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed System (IPAFFS).
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to encourage industry to stop the practice of culling male laying hen chicks.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to encourage industry to stop the practice of culling male laying hen chicks.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish the consultation on a ban on caged hens.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish the consultation on a ban on caged hens.
A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is now analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, whether her Department plans to require that all chicken is sourced from higher welfare systems meeting the standards of the Better Chicken Commitment in Government procurement contracts.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, whether her Department plans to require that all chicken is sourced from higher welfare systems meeting the standards of the Better Chicken Commitment in Government procurement contracts.
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, public sector food procurement policies have the potential to drive more positive animal welfare outcomes. We will explore such opportunities as we develop our policy, including the potential to strengthen the animal welfare provisions across a range of products within the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF). Further, the National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February 2025, underscores the government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards and upholds ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, whether her Department plans to support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy for England, whether her Department plans to support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 118907.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing import restrictions on enriched cages for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing import restrictions on enriched cages for laying hens, pullets and breeder layers.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 18 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend, PQ UIN 120331.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the competitiveness of British egg producers in the context of the proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the competitiveness of British egg producers in the context of the proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages.
In preparation for the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, the Government carried out an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on UK egg producers and, as part of the consultation, sought views on that assessment. The Government is now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at its disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of agricultural land egg producers will require to comply with the proposed ban on colony cages.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of agricultural land egg producers will require to comply with the proposed ban on colony cages.
In preparation for the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, the Government carried out a general assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on the competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers and, as part of the consultation, sought views on that assessment. The Government is now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a ban on colony cages on the agricultural land market.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a ban on colony cages on the agricultural land market.
In preparation for the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, the Government carried out a general assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on the competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers and, as part of the consultation, sought views on that assessment. The Government is now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what methodology the Animal and Plant Health Agency uses to determine the compensation value of poultry culled during avian influenza outbreaks; and whether this valuation is benchmarked against prevailing commercial market prices for equivalent birds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what methodology the Animal and Plant Health Agency uses to determine the compensation value of poultry culled during avian influenza outbreaks; and whether this valuation is benchmarked against prevailing commercial market prices for equivalent birds.
Compensation is paid by Defra for animals culled by the Government for disease control purposes in England, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) makes its assessment of the disease status of the birds based on clinical inspection and veterinary judgment. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat.
The amount of compensation is established by APHA using the relevant valuation rate card (or for birds or husbandry systems not covered by the rate cards, by a specialist valuer). The valuation rate cards are updated by independent consultants five times per year (in January, March, June, September and November) to ensure rates are in line with average market values for the types of birds.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what timeline and industry roadmap he has established for ending male chick culling.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what timeline and industry roadmap he has established for ending male chick culling.
The Government has set out in the recently published Animal Welfare Strategy that it will encourage the egg industry to move away from the practice of killing day-old chicks. The Government will discuss with them a roadmap to reach the objective of ending male chick culling.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Poultry Support Grant.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Poultry Support Grant.
The Poultry Biosecurity Review uses funds allocated to farmers in England only. As agriculture is devolved, it will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland. Overall, the spending review settlement for the Scottish Government is the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1998.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, published on 12 January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, published on 12 January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the...
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, published on 12 January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning caged...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, published on 12 January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning caged...
The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.
As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to publish a formal consultation on how a transition to in-ovo sexing would be implemented.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to publish a formal consultation on how a transition to in-ovo sexing would be implemented.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out how her Department’s animal welfare strategy will address the welfare of fast-growing broiler chickens used in the foodservice sector.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out how her Department’s animal welfare strategy will address the welfare of fast-growing broiler chickens used in the foodservice sector.
The Government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds. The Government welcomes the fact that those supermarkets who made Better Chicken Commitment pledges have fulfilled them, but it is disappointing to hear of the decision of various restaurant groups to withdraw their commitments to improve animal welfare in this way.
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for bringing this matter to the House. I agree that support for the British egg industry is vital. He will know that DEFRA recently held a public consultation on this matter, and the call for views closed last week. We await the outcome of...
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for bringing this matter to the House. I agree that support for the British egg industry is vital. He will know that DEFRA recently held a public consultation on this matter, and the call for views closed last week. We await the outcome of...
I would like to associate myself with the earlier remarks about the Dunblane tragedy.
Could the Leader of the House arrange for a statement on Government support for egg production in the UK, which is a vital part of the food chain? My constituency has some of the UK’s largest egg...
I would like to associate myself with the earlier remarks about the Dunblane tragedy.
Could the Leader of the House arrange for a statement on Government support for egg production in the UK, which is a vital part of the food chain? My constituency has some of the UK’s largest egg...
What steps she is taking to ban male chick culling in the egg sector.
What steps she is taking to ban male chick culling in the egg sector.