Welfare of Laying Hens Directive

Council Directive 1999/74/EC, adopted in 1999, distinguishes three types of rearing systems for laying hens: enriched cages where laying hens have at least 750 cm² of cage area per hen; non enriched cage systems where hens have at least 550 cm² of cage area per hen. From 1 January 2003 onwards such cagesmay not be built anymore or utilised for the first time. By January 2012 at the latest this system must be prohibited; and non-cage systems with nests (at least one for 7 hens), adequate perches and where the stocking density does not exceed 9 laying hens per m² usable area.

The link address is: http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/farm/laying_hens_en.htm