MEP urges EU to step up efforts to stop battery farming

Parliament has been told that EU-wide efforts to tackle the “outrage” of battery egg farming are still a “long way” from meeting expectations.

Speaking on Wednesday at an awards ceremony, UK Green/EFA MEP Caroline Lucas said it is estimated that, currently, over 200 million hens in member states are confined to battery cages.

“They are barely able to turn around let alone spread their wings or fulfil many of their natural behaviours,” she said.

“This is not just a matter of horrendous animal cruelty,  it is a major human health risk, as increasing evidence suggests that intensive poultry farming practices play a key role in the spread of disease such as avian flu.”

In an effort to tackle the problem, the commission has said there will no postponement, as has been feared by animal welfare groups, of a proposed ban on conventional battery eggs. The ban is due to come into force by 2012.

Lucas said, “While it is good news that the ban has not been postponed, it is still a long way off.

“The ban will also still allow so-called enriched cages to be used so the aim should be a total ban on cages for laying hens as soon as possible.”

She added, “It is vital that EU retailers, operators and food manufacturers support the ban by committing themselves as well to not importing shell eggs or egg products which are produced to below EU welfare standards.”

She was speaking in parliament at the ‘good egg’ awards, given each year by Compassion in World Farming (CWF), the leading animal welfare group, to celebrate companies who have chosen to stop sourcing eggs from hens kept in battery cages.

Prize winners included Sodexo, which provides all the catering for parliament.

Rowen West-Henzell, food policy manager for the UK-based CWF, said, “Award winners have helped millions more hens out of cages by moving to cage-free egg supply.

“We've had outstanding results from companies switching on egg product, notably Unilever, moving to barn and free-range liquid egg across all dressings and sauces in 11 European countries including France, Germany and Spain.”

Winners this year range across different sectors and European regions. The biggest award winners are multinationals McDonald's and Unilever with other major winners including Carrefour Belgium.

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