Commenting on a European Parliament resolution, which states any attempt to evade the EU ban on battery cages for laying hens – due to take effect in January 2012 – must be resisted, Kay Swinburne MEP said:
“As far as I am aware, all Welsh egg producers will be compliant with this legislation by the deadline, which is an excellent achievement.
“I welcome the Parliament’s decision to stand up to the European Commission on this issue but now we must crack down on other countries such as Italy and Poland, where many producers are still non-compliant.
“The welfare of these animals is essential and we need to do away with the scandalously small cages some hens are reared in. Our Welsh eggs should not have to compete against battery laid eggs any longer.”
The resolution urges the Commission to stick to the ban and to oppose strongly any attempts by Member States to obtain a deferral. It also asks the Commission to submit, by 31 December 2011, a list of egg and egg-product producers, processors and retailers who are not complying with the law.
