Although legislation on the welfare of laying hens was introduced at the beginning of last year, there are still two EU member states rearing birds in illegal barren battery cages. Producers in the EU's 27 states had over a decade to prepare for the new legislation, but by the January 2012 deadline just 13 states were fully compliant.

image expired

An estimated 20 million laying hens are still being kept in illegal cages across the EU. Last week, animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming called on EU legislators to urgently speed up the transition in Greece and Italy.

Both countries, especially Greece, have been hit by the Eurozone crisis, and officials have blamed fears over the economy for the slow progress. Compassion campaigners in Italy have said the country accounts for the majority of hens housed illegally in the EU.

Compassion spokesperson Philip Lymbery said on Thursday (7th February) "It is shameful that millions of the EU's hens are still in illegal cages. The EU has built a reputation for raising animal welfare standards and individual nations should not be allowed to undermine this."

"As well as action from governments and the European Commission, food companies should be checking their supply chains to make sure none of the eggs they use come from illegal systems. There should be no market for these suppliers."

Although the Commission's sluggish response to non-compliance over the cage ban was subject to criticism from both welfare campaigners and industry groups in 2012, measures were made to limit circulation of illegal eggs to their country of origin. However, when new pig welfare laws came into force banning use of sow stalls after the first four weeks of pregnancy no such restrictions were in place. The EU Commission said this was due to the greater difficulties associated with tracking pig meat in the supply chain, particularly in processed food.

Olga Kikou, Compassion’s European Affairs Manager, says the situation in Greece is lamentable, she said, "The barren battery cage ban has been in effect for over a year now, yet many Greek farmers are not compliant or showing they will comply. The Greek state has to take strict measures to ensure that it does not set a bad example for Europe and to prevent sanctions which the Greek people will have to pay."

Although the two welfare directives were hailed as "major steps forward for animal welfare in the EU" by Compassion, though the group believes the new minimum standards are still far from ideal, such widespread lack of compliance is calling into question the commitment of some farmers and national governments to progressive policies.