LANDOWNERS have expressed relief as the Government withdrew the flawed Code of Practice for the Rearing of Game Birds. The CLA said the move was a victory for all those in the game industry who campaigned against the code and a welcome approach to consultation by the new Government. The CLA, Game Farmers’ Association, Countryside Alliance, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and the national Gamekeepers’ Organisation all condemned changes made to the detail of the code by the previous Government, which they claimed failed to take into account veterinary advice on welfare and recommendations from the specialist stakeholder group. Caroline Beddell, CLA regional director, said: “It is vital to provide a code that underpins sustainable game rearing and we look forward to working with the new Defra team to achieve this.”