Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 05

     
     1        two in draft form.  The two in draft form reply to cattle
              and to sheep; the two which are being brought into effect
     2        are for egg production and for pig meat production.  The
              ones for these standards should be available from the
     3        RSPCA.  The ones for pig production are in excess of the
              requirements for -- sorry, not requirements, the
     4        recommendations as laid down by the Ministry of
              Agriculture Fisheries and Food code of practice.  That is
     5        in terms of general husbandry, but less so in the case of
              the stunning and slaughter methods that are used.  They
     6        are the same as the requirements under the Ministry of
              Agriculture.
     7
         MR. MORRIS:  For stunning and slaughter?
     8        A.  Yes, they are virtually identical.
 
     9   Q.   Does that go for eggs as well, egg production?
              A.  My memory is not fresh.  It is a while -- sorry, it is
    10        sometime since I have read the egg freedom foods
              document.  I cannot quote without re-consulting it, I am
         sorry.
 
    12   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You can only really give a confident opinion
              on the pig production side?
    13        A.  I did read that in the train coming up here, I think,
              but again it is not crystal clear in my memory, but I can
    14        try.
 
    15   Q.   But do -- getting back to general standards in the
              industry, am I to take it that those generally comply with
    16        MAFF recommendations but are not generally higher than the
              MAFF ---
    17        A.  They are.
 
    18   Q.   -- recommendations?
              A.  They are higher than the MAFF recommendations.
    19
         Q.   What, standards in the industry?
    20        A.  No, standards in freedom foods.
 
    Q.   No.
              A.  I beg your pardon -- start again.
    22
         Q.   I will just start again.  I do not want to take too much
    23        time over this.
              A.  Sorry, I apologise.
    24
         Q.   What I wanted to know was how the freedom food standards
    25        compared with standards generally throughout the
              industry.  You told me how they compared with MAFF 
    26        recommendations with regard to pigs? 
              A.  Yes. 
    27
         Q.   Not the other heads, as I understand it, because you are
    28        confident enough that you can record just what the
              standards are in freedom food with regard to those
    29        matters.  What I want you to do, if you can -- maybe you
              cannot -- tell me how the freedom food standards compared
    30        with standards in the industry, whatever the
              recommendations may be?