The Use of Cages for Farmed Animals

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 3:09 pm on 28 September 2022.

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Photo of Lesley Griffiths Lesley Griffiths Labour 3:09, 28 September 2022

Thank you. So, we are working with other administrations—you mentioned the UK and Scottish Governments—to look at how and where cages are used, alongside the welfare impacts of existing and whether there are alternative systems also. The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Wales) Regulations 2007 set down detailed conditions in which farmed animals must be kept, and we also have a code of practice for the welfare of game birds reared for sporting purposes. That provides practical guidance, explaining what a person needs to do to meet the standards of care that the law absolutely requires. The use of management devices or practices that do not allow birds to fully express their range of normal behaviours should not be considered as routine and keepers should work towards management systems not requiring such devices. 

We've had a review of our code of practices for the welfare of game birds, but at the moment that's been on hold because we have so much work that we need to examine from the other Governments. So, once we've had a look at the evidence around that, we can look to see if that code of practice needs changing. We wouldn't change it without consultation—because I think that's really important—with our stakeholders.