The Humane League UK (claimant/appellant) v Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (defendant/respondent)

Wednesday 23 – Thursday 24 October 2024

By Appellant’s Notice filed on the 7 July 2023, the claimant below appeals the order of Sir Ross Cranston, sitting in the Administrative Court, dated 24 May 2023  by which he dismissed their judicial review claim.

The Appellant sought to challenge the policies and approach of the Secretary of State in relation to the rearing of meat-chickens in the United Kingdom. The key issue was said to be the construction of paragraph 29 of schedule 1 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations 2007:

“Animals may only be kept for farming purposes if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of their genotype or phenotype, that they can be kept without any detrimental effect on their health or welfare.”

The Appellant contends that para 29 prohibits keeping animals for farming purposes unless it can reasonably be expected that, on the basis of their genotype or phenotype, that they can be kept without any detrimental effect on their health or welfare.

The Secretary of State’s Code of Practice and system of monitoring and enforcing animal welfare (the Trigger system) were also challenged.

View hearing:

Day 1

Part 1

Part 2

Day 2

Part 1

Part 2