BPC calls on UK government to boost poultry success

The British Poultry Council has 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, hosted by EFRA Chair Anne McIntosh and with Food and Farming Minister George Eustice MP as guest speaker. 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 have called on the government’s help to:

Create the conditions needed to realise 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, chief executive of the British Poultry Council Andrew Large said: “We are delighted to launch our Manifesto for the British Poultry Meat Industry. 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 realise 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 favourite meat and accounts for almost half (46%) of all meat eaten in the UK, nearly the same volume as beef, pork and lamb combined. The industry makes a £3.3bn gross value add contribution to UK GDP, supports £1bn in total tax payable to the Exchequer and supports 73,200 UK jobs.

BPC have 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 UK jobs and growth.
UK wide recognition poultry is a lean and nutritious meat that should be part of a healthy UK diet.
British poultry remains affordable for British families and Britain’s favourite meat, with poultry accounting for over half of all meat eaten in the UK.
A continued decline in levels of campylobacter.