Manifesto for British Poultry Industry launched by BPC

The British Poultry Council (BPC) launched its ‘Manifesto for the British Poultry Industry,’ calling on the government to help ensure long-term success for the British poultry meat industry and help deliver its 2020 vision.
The policy manifesto was launched at the Annual Poultry Awards in the House of Commons on December 3. It sets out the industry’s high ambitions for 2020, centering on its ability to produce consistently safe, nutritious, affordable and sustainable food for British families and foreign market.
BPC called on the government’s help to:


• Create the conditions needed to realize growth and export potential.
• Ensure rearing poultry remains affordable to British farmers by securing long-term feed supplies.
• Promote the dietary benefits and affordability of British poultry meats.
At the launch, BPC Chief Executive Andrew Large said: “We are delighted to launch our Manifesto for the British Poultry Meat Industry today. It is an exciting time for the sector with continued UK growth and increasing consumption, as well as significant potential export opportunities.
“But we need the government’s help to ensure that we can realize this potential, whilst at the same time continue to produce consistently safe, nutritious, affordable and sustainable food for British families at home and abroad.
“This manifesto clearly sets out our aims for the industry over the next five years, and the steps government can take to help ensure our vision is turned into reality. We will speak to all of the main parties ahead of the general election and hope that our policies will be adopted in their respective manifestos.”
Poultry is Britain’s favorite meat and accounts for almost half (46 percent) of all meat eaten in the U.K., nearly the same volume as beef, pork and lamb combined. The industry makes a GBP3.3 billion (US$5.17) gross value add contribution to U.K. GDP, supports GBP1 billion (US$1.57 billion) in total tax payable to the Exchequer and supports 73,200 U.K. jobs.
BPC has high ambitions for the sector going forward, and the document sets out their vision for 2020, including:


• Growing the value of UK poultry meat year on year – including exports.
• Growing employment in the sector, contributing to rebalancing U.K. jobs and growth.
• UK wide recognition poultry is a lean and nutritious meat that should be part of a healthy U.K. diet.
• British poultry remains affordable for British families and Britain’s favorite meat, with poultry accounting for over half of all meat eaten in the U.K.
• A continued decline in levels of Campylobacter.

British free range geese logo supports producers standards

A new logo for the British free range goose has been created by the British Goose Producers to highlight producers' methods and strengthen the bird's brand image.
Geese are reared today using the same methods as centuries ago, said Eddie Hegarty, chairman of the British Goose Producers. “Nowadays they are typically reared through the autumn on grass rather than on corn stubble behind the harvest, but they do enjoy a very similar, natural lifestyle," said Hegarty. The new logo will be used on promotional material used by BGP members, including product literature and websites.

Aviagen honors 50-year partnership with Moy Park

Moy Park's David Gibson and Graeme Dear of Aviagen celebrate 50 years of partnership.

Aviagen and Moy Park celebrated 50 years of partnership with a dinner held in Edinburgh.
Special recognition was given to David Gibson, the director of agriculture for Moy Park, and Graeme Dear, general manager at Aviagen, who have been working together for the entire 50 years of their companies' partnership. “Moy Park is delighted to celebrate 50 years of partnership with Aviagen," said Gibson. "Both companies have undergone huge transformations since 1960, including several changes of ownership. However, the Moy Park/Aviagen strategic partnership has continued and only grown stronger over this period of time."
The companies signed their first franchise agreement in 1960, regarding the importation of parent stock from Scotland into Northern Ireland.

British initiative is 'positive move' towards country-of-origin meat, dairy labeling

New country-of-origin labeling guidelines have been enacted on British meat and dairy products.
The "Principles on Country of Origin Information" document, developed by various industry trade bodies and backed by the government, is definitely a step in the right direction, said the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales (NFU) in a statement. The guidelines will apply to fresh meat and processed meat products as well as main dairy products.
“The NFU has been lobbying for many years, both in the UK and in Europe, for action on country-of-origin labeling on meat and dairy products," said NFU chief science and regulatory affairs adviser Helen Ferrier. "Today’s initiative is a positive move and a significant step by the retail, manufacturing and hospitality sectors and they should be applauded. The onus is now on them to take the lead and give consumers the information they need so they can be confident that when they choose to buy British, that is what they will get." Ferrier said the NFU plans to keep a close eye on the guidelines' progress.

Campylobacter ‘biggest UK food safety challenge’

Working with the UK food industry to tackle campylobacter has been identified by the country’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) as its key priority for the next five years in recently published proposals.
The FSA’s Foodborne Disease Strategy, a roadmap for reducing all types of food poisoning in the UK by 2015, says that the increased prevalence of campylobacter is the biggest challenge for food safety.
The most recent study by the agency showed that 65% of raw shop-bought chicken was contaminated with campylobacter. An estimated 300,000 cases of food poisoning are attributed to campylobacter every year in England and Wales alone.
The FSA’s proposed action on campylobacter includes:
working closely with the UK food industry to trial new intervention measures on farm, in slaughterhouses and at retail level;
setting a new target for reducing the levels of campylobacter by 2015; and
helping to ensure people can protect themselves from infection with campylobacter by making sure they are aware of the need to avoid cross-contamination when handling raw chicken and to cook chicken thoroughly.

Scottish funds go to egg producers

The Scottish Rural Development Program has given poultry producers funds to upgrade operations, according to a report in The Scotsman. The largest grant went to Fred Duncan, Grampian Country Food founder, who will use £$1.6M to transform some large pig units for hens.
Glenrath farms, the biggest egg producer in Scotland, will use its £$745,000 to upgrade two of its chicken sheds to an enriched colony system. I & J McRae and G Watson also received funds to upgrade egg facilities.

UK farming union raises alarm over EU, Mercosur trade talks

British poultry and cattle farmers could face huge financial losses if free trade talks conclude between the EU and South American countries that do not recognize the high production and welfare standards that UK farmers adhere to, warns the UK’s National Farmers’ Union (NFU).
The NFU has expressed its “grave concerns” after the EU Commission agreed to restart negotiations with the Mercosur trading bloc. It believes that increasing levels of imported beef and poultry could negatively impact on EU producers and dent consumer confidence.
NFU poultry board chairman Charles Bourns commented: “Trade liberalization might sound tantalizing to EU trade commissioners, but to poultry farmers floods of cheap South American poultry meat is the last ting the sector needs at this point in time.”