Brussels, 25/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 April, the European Commission decided to refer Greece and Italy to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the failure to correctly implement Directive 1999/74/EC banning “un-enriched cages” (battery cages).
The political decision for the ban on un-enriched cages was taken in 1999. Greece and Italy had twelve years to ensure a smooth transition to the new system and to implement the directive.
On the 26 January 2012, the Commission sent a letter of formal notice asking Greece and Italy, together with 11 other EU member states to take action to address deficiencies in the implementation of the EU legislation concerning the welfare of animals, and specifically to implement the ban on un-enriched cages for laying hens which applied as of 1 January 2012. This was followed by a reasoned opinion on 21 June 2012. Of the 13 member states that received letters requesting them to correctly implement this directive, only two member states remain non-compliant.
As of 1 January 2013, Directive 1999/74/EC requires that all laying hens are kept in enriched cages with extra space to nest, scratch and roost, or in alternative systems. Thus cages can be used only if they provide each hen with at least 750 square centimetres of cage area, a nest-box, litter, perches and claw-shortening devices, allowing the hens to satisfy their biological and behavioural needs. (LC/transl.fl)