An agreement by EU farm ministers to set new welfare rules for broiler hens, including a maximum stocking density of 39kg live birds/m sq, has triggered a predictably mixed response.
EU food safety commissioner Markos Kyprianou, who initiated the Directive, said it would "result in better animal welfare across Europe".
But Peter Stevenson of Compassion in World Farming said it did nothing to prevent intensive poultry production which caused unnecessary suffering to billions of chickens every year.
Junior DEFRA minister Ben Bradshaw, who voted in favour of the Directive, said it "sends a strong message that we care about animal welfare".
But Conservative MEP Neil Parish, who chairs the European parliament's agriculture committee, said it was "a missed opportunity" to impose even tougher standards.
Whatever one's welfare perspective or political starting point, there can be no doubting that having a pan-European set of rules is better than having no Directive at all.
That's not to suggest there were no rules before. Directives governing the treatment of farm animals, their transport and their slaughter already apply to EU broiler production. But this new Directive serves to bring them all together and add the conditions on stocking density.
For UK broiler producers it will make little difference. As the British Poultry Council points out, most UK producers already operate at 38kg/m sq under existing farm assurance schemes.
It's also true to say that stocking rates are just one part of the equation. Feeding, watering, handling, ventilation, temperature control and litter proviosion are all equally important - and these are all covered by the new Directive.
There are real reasons to be concerned, however.
First, the new Directive does not apply to imports. There is every likelihood that processors in particular will turn to suppliers from South America and South-east Asia, who can produce poultry meat at a fraction of the cost, without the welfare guarantees.
Second, the UK government may chose to "goldplate" the EU legislation. The fact it is a Directive rather than a regulation means there is plenty of scope for DEFRA to apply its own interpretation.
Third, the major retailers may also impose tougher conditions on their contracted suppliers, pushing up costs for no extra margin.
Once again UK producers could find themselves disadvantaged, despite the EU Commission's best attempt to harmonise the business environment.