Brussels, 04/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 16 December 2010, the European Parliament (EP) called on the Commission to maintain the requirement for a ban on battery cages by 1st January 2012, as laid down in the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive (1999/74/EC), and strongly to oppose any attempts by member states to secure a deferral of that deadline.
MEPs are concerned that a substantial number of member states and 30% of EU egg production may not be ready to comply with the ban by the 1st...