EU animal welfare organisation Eurogroup for Animals has launched a new campaign to encourage policymakers to enforce the conventional cage ban for laying hens when it comes into play on 1 January.
With just 100 days to go before the new legislation takes effect (from 23 September), the group is calling for "one final push to maintain pressure on European authorities, national governments and major egg users to ensure this ban is respected".
"Recent figures show that 17 million birds will still be in conventional cages after 1 January 2012. As producers have been given a generous 12-year period to comply with the legislation, this is unacceptable and must be stopped immediately," said Sonja van Tichelen, director of Eurogroup for Animals.
The campaign website features a ticking clock, counting down the seconds to midnight on 31 December 2011, at which point the directive kicks in.
It also includes guidance on writing to ministers and EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barrosa, and urges consumers to ask caterers, restaurants and retailers what system of production their eggs have come from.
"Whether it is at home or in your local supermarket, café, restaurant or holiday hotel or even your work place caterer or local school, you can challenge the company or purchaser to ensure that all their eggs come from non-cage systems," said Ms van Tichelen.
Source: FWI
