The majority of EU member states have missed the 1st January deadline for the new Welfare of Laying Hens directive and now face legal proceedings, the European Commission has said.

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Although some states acted in time to meet the new directive, which outlaws 'unenriched cages' and renders eggs produced from them illegal. In all, 14 states including Belgium, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Romania, Hungary and Latvia have all failed to convert battery cages into slightly higher welfare 'enriched cages.'

EU Health and Consumer Commissioner John Dalli warned all states in a letter sent in November last year that the Commission would pursue proceedings against any country which failed to meet the new directive. However, the Commission has estimated that over 46.7 million hens (14 per cent of the total flock) throughout the bloc remain in illegal battery cages.

A European Commission spokesperson said at the beginning of the week that inspection teams would now visit the non-compliant states to collect evidence which would support legal action and subsequent fines. The new rules have been planned for 30 years in all, with the 2012 deadline in place for 12 of those.

There is also widespread concern that a number of states will not act in time to meet the forthcoming pig welfare reforms, which will come into force from 1st January 2013. From 2013, sow stalls will be made illegal in the bloc, though many states have suggested they will not be ready; sow stalls were banned in the UK 13 years ago.

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