Ten Member States get final warning over tiny hen cages
(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission issued a final warning Thursday to 10 EU nations to improve the living conditions of egg-laying hens or face court action for keeping them in cramped cages.
European Union governments had been given 12 years to implement a law requiring bigger cages for hens but 10 of 27 states have yet to abide by the new rules, which came into effect on January 1, the commission said.
But Thursday, the EU's executive arm sent a "reasoned opinion" to the 10, giving them two months to comply or face the European Court of Justice.
The nations still violating the rules are Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland and Portugal.
Three other nations, Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania, avoided getting a notice while the commission checks their assurances they are now complying with the law.
Millions of hens are cooped up in cages no bigger than a standard piece of typing paper though the law says egg-laying hens must be kept in so-called "enriched cages," with "extra space to nest, scratch and roost."
Under the rules, hens must have at least 750 square centimetres of space as well as a nest-box, litter, perches and claw-shorteners "to satisfy their biological and behavioural needs."
"Full compliance by all member states is essential to avoid market distortions and unfair competition," the commission said.
"Member states who still allow the use of 'un-enriched' cages put businesses that invested in complying with the new measures at a disadvantage," it said.
"To demonstrate compliance, member states will need to show that all those establishments still using un-enriched cages, have either been transformed or closed."