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Battery hen cages to be outlawed in the UK by 2012
Last updated at 23:52pm on 09.11.07Battery hen cages are to be banned from 2012, the Government has confirmed.
Animal welfare campaigners welcomed the commitment as freeing millions of birds from "one of the cruellest of modern farming practices".
Farming Minister Lord Rooker made the announcement at an egg and poultry industry Conference.
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Breakthrough: Battery cages for hens will be banned by 2012
The move is in line with an EU directive, although some countries and poultry producers have argued for a delay in implementing it.
Compassion in World Farming chief executive Philip Lymbery said: "Lord Rooker has made a monumental decision and we cannot praise him enough for an action that will get 20million UK birds out of battery cages every year." • Debby Reynolds, the Government's chief vet, who was criticised over the handling of this year's foot and mouth outbreak, is to take early retirement.
The 55-year-old, chief veterinary officer for four years, said she was "immensely proud" of her achievements but "the time is right for me to move on".
Reader views (2)
Scientific evidence proves that the hens kept in cages are the least stressed of the current systems, they also have fewer large bone fractures. Apart from preventative vaccines given to all poultry they seldom require medicinal intervention unlike Free Range systems. They are also less likely to be infected by wild birds carrying the H51N virus. There are less bacteria on the shell of a cage produced egg therefore making them the perferred option for the vulnerable consumer, eg elderly. Cage eggs will still be sold in this country, currently we have control over welfare and what these hens are fed. We are heading for a situation where eggs will be brought in from other countries where welfare standards and health standards do not match ours, leaving consumers and hens more vulnerable.
There has been a lot of rubbish said about cage hens, let's listen to the science and not the lies.
- Moira Henderson, Fife, Scotland
Why exactly wait so long ?
- Marianne, SW France
