Help enforce EU ban on battery cages

In 1999, the European Union judged that battery cages are so cruel they should be banned across the EU and passed legislation, known as the Laying Hens Directive, requiring the egg industry to stop confining hens in battery cages by 2012. Not surprisingly, members of the egg industry and some EU member states are lobbying to overturn or delay the ban because they mistakenly believe it will be economically damaging. In truth, it costs only pennies more to produce cage-free eggs instead of battery eggs, and surveys show that most consumers are willing to pay more for cage-free eggs. Many retailers and foodservice operators, including Marks and Spencer, McDonald's, Starbucks, and Waitrose, support the ban and sell only cage-free eggs in the UK. The cost will be even less if the government subsidises cage-free producers.

A few extra pence is a small price to pay to help lessen animal suffering. Each year in the EU, around 300 million hens are crammed into filthy wire-mesh battery cages stacked tier upon tier in huge warehouses. Several birds are crowded into each cage, packed so tightly together that they are unable to spread even one wing. Their bones are brittle both from forced inactivity and because calcium is leached from their bodies to produce eggs. These birds never get the chance to breathe fresh air, feel the sun on their backs, build nests, raise their young, or do anything else that is natural and important to them.  

Lord Rooker, the UK Minister for Sustainable Food and Farming and Animal Health, recently announced that battery cages will be banned in the UK as of 2012, despite opposition from the egg industry and regardless of what happens in the rest of Europe.

The egg industry and many EU Member States are pushing for the Laying Hens Directive to be delayed for up to ten years. Germany has a separate nation ban due to come into force earlier than the EU ban – in 2009. However now doubts are cast over Germany’s commitment to their national ban as all the other northern EU member states have stressed that they do not wish the ban to be postponed but Germany is yet to make it clear whether or not they will support a postponement.
 
You Can Help:
 
PETA is calling for Horst Seehofer, the German Agriculture Minister to lead the way towards an EU ban on battery cages for hens and enforce Germany’s own national ban in 2009. It is vitally important that the EU ban not be postponed and come into force as planned in 2012. Please write to Horst Seehofer asking him to help the 300 million hens in the EU who are currently crammed into filthy wire-mesh battery cages stacked tier upon tier in huge warehouses.