Keep the Ban on Battery Cages
Over 200 million laying hens are confined to battery cages in the EU, causing them immense psychological and physical suffering. The EU legislation to ban the barren battery cage is under threat, despite the clear need for the ban and the support of the majority of EU citizens. EU Member states and some members of the egg industry are lobbying to overturn the ban because of the misconception that it will inevitably be economically damaging. Providing EU governments join growing numbers of retailers and the majority of consumers in supporting the ban, it will not necessarily be damaging and will probably be good for rural economies
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200 million reasons to KEEP THE BAN |
It is crucial to take action now. Politicians and retailers have to realise that the egg industry does not speak for all of us - EU citizens want this ban.
Watch an undercover film of battery hens in Scotland (3.28MB WMV file), filmed by our coalition partner, Advocates for Animals. The hens in this film are overcrowded and the farm was reported to Animal Health officers.
Background to the Ban
The Ban
After years of dedicated political lobbying and campaigning by CIWF and its supporters, CIWF were delighted to achieve a landmark victory in the fight to ban barren battery cages. In 1999, the European Union passed the Laying Hens Directive (1999/74/EC) – legislation requiring complete phasing out of the use of barren battery cage by 2012. Statements issued by the International Egg Commission since then, indicate that the decision sent a ripple around the world, with the global cage industry (the industry that produces the battery cage) fearing a domino effect in other countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia.
Threats to the ban
Although the EU legislation passed in 1999 states that the ban will commence from 2012, this date is currently under threat. There is a requirement that during the time between the legislation being passed and being implemented, there should be a report on the progress of the transition towards the ban. Certain EU member states and members of the egg industry are calling for the report to recommend that the ban should be delayed or even dropped completely.
Those lobbying against the ban are doing so because they believe it will be economically damaging. There is a concern that the ban will cause a great increase in imports of cheap battery eggs from outside the EU. Another concern is that cage-free systems are much more expensive to run and that the industry will bear the cost. With proper government planning and support from retailers and consumers, neither of these scenarios is likely to occur. Why we must keep the ban
Take action to keep the ban
It is crucial to show politicians and supermarkets that European citizens support the ban on barren battery cages. Remember, your opinions do make a difference. Politicians and supermarkets are sensitive to public opinion. Generally they do not want to be perceived as the “bad guys” who deny the public what they want.
Join our campaign to convince Tesco to go cage-free.
See our Take Action Page for quick and easy methods to get your voice heard.
For further information
For detailed information on all of these issues, download CIWF's new 2007 report:
'Alternatives to the Barren Battery Cage for the Housing of Laying Hens in the European Union' (in PDF format, 1.38 MB)
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