Half of EU states violate welfare laws for hens

Ban on cages without adequate space not being implemented.

The European Commission today (26 January) notified 13 member states that they have failed to properly implement EU legislation on the welfare of laying hens.

A ban on cages without adequate space to nest, scratch and roost, known as “un-enriched”, went into effect on 1 January, under legislation adopted in 1999. But the Commission says Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Romania have not implemented the ban despite warnings that they were not going to meet the 2012 deadline

As of this month, hens can only be kept in cages if they give the hen at least 750 cm² of cage area, a nest-box, litter, perches and claw-shortening devices. Member States have two months to respond to the notification before the Commission will initiate action that could lead to a referral to the European Court of Justice.

Last week the Commission published a strategy paper which concluded that the lack of an overall legislative framework on animal welfare was leading to violations of law and for some areas to fall through the cracks. A dedicated EU directive on animal welfare could help solve this, it concluded.