Brussels, 20/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The deadline for implementing the ban on using unenriched battery cages for laying hens was confirmed on Wednesday 19 January, at a meeting in Brussels of the principal stakeholders (Member States, representatives of the industry, producers, consumers, etc), according to a European Commission press release (EUROPE 10286). It will no longer be permitted to use these cages in the EU as of 1 January 2012. It was also stressed that the circulation of eggs produced in non-compliant systems would be prevented.
The European Commission takes the view that applying the new standards for rearing laying hens will reinforce consumers' trust in the application of animal protection rules. It pledges that it will ensure that the internal market for eggs and egg product will work correctly. Those taking part in the meeting also expressed their hopes that animal welfare standards would apply to products imported from third countries.
Directive 1999/74/EC of the Council laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens distinguishes between three systems for keeping laying hens: - enriched cages with a minimum surface area of 750 cm² per animal; - unenriched cages with a minimum surface area of 550 cm² per animal; since 1 January 2003, it is no longer be possible to build cages of this type or use them for the first time. This rearing system will be fully banned by January 2012; - non-cage systems, comprising laying nests (at least one nest for every seven hens) and adequate perches, in which the stocking density may not exceed nine laying hens per metre squared of usable surface area.
Furthermore, hens raised in the enriched cage systems and the non-cage systems must have laying nests, perching space of 15 cm per hen, litter allowing pecking and scratching and unlimited access to food troughs, with each animal having at least 12 cm of trough in the cage to feed from. (L.C./trans.fl)