The European Parliament has today voted in favour of phasing out battery cages for egg-laying hens throughout Europe.
Battery cages are the oldest and perhaps cruellest of all the factory farm systems.
Some 30 million hens in the UK alone are imprisoned in these cages which are so small they cannot even stretch their wings. We are delighted that the European Parliament has voted against this system and we now look to the EU Agriculture Ministers to ensure this system is consigned to the scrap-heap of history. The European Parliament today considered proposals for a new laying hens Directive published by the European Commission in March 1998. This issue will now go to the Council of Agriculture Ministers who have the final word. The Council will, however, find it very hard to ignore the Parliament's vote as the Parliament has gathered in weight and authority in recent months.