The draft Code of Practice on the Welfare of Gamebirds has been widely accepted by the game shooting industry and the National Assembly for Wales and comes in to force this month.
Gamebird rearing code accepted in Wales.
The consultation was launched in January 2010, and in May the Countryside Alliance chaired an ?unprecedented? meeting of rural organisations and Assembly Members to discuss shooting interests in Wales.
Charles Nodder of the National Gamekeepers? Organisation and Game Farmers? Association and Chris Davis MRCVS of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust supported the Alliance along with the FUW, CLA and NFU.
Rachel Evans, director for Wales for the Countryside Alliance, said: ?I am very pleased to welcome the Code of Practice, which enhances welfare while protecting a multimillion pound industry in Wales. The code has many merits on improving animal welfare attached to it, while giving producers the opportunity to remain competitive in the market of gamebird rearing. This code will secure a vital income for rural Wales by preventing imports from outside the UK, where Animal welfare standards are far less adequate and producers were ready to monopolise the market.?
Gundog displays and hound parades across Wales have been saved from licensing requirements after the Welsh Government abandoned controversial proposals
Deer stalkers across Scotland’s lowlands can now access a second round of funding to upgrade their venison processing facilities