Glenis Willmott is advocating a new labeling category for eggs, so consumers can know whether the eggs come from poultry kept in old style battery cages, or new bird-friendly “enriched” ones.

Glenis explained.  “From 2010, conventional battery cages are meant to be outlawed, and new European laws will only allow birds to be kept in “enriched” cages which provide minimum space, nests, access to water and so on.”

“However, while the UK is complying with this deadline, certain other member states have not yet phased out the old-style cages which cause so much distress to the poultry.”

“We will, therefore, for an unspecified period of time, have two categories of egg from caged birds – those whose cages comply with the new rules and the old ones, which don’t.    Labeling must ensure that consumers can differentiate between them, and this should also apply to eggs used in processed products.”

“A number of Members of the Westminster Parliament have signed Early Day Motions (EDMs) supporting this change, but as this can only be altered at European level, it is in the European Parliament where we must take action.”

“I will therefore be putting forward amendments to the food labeling legislation presently being discussed in the European Parliament.”

“I will also be submitting a formal Written Question to the European Commission, asking them what steps they intend to take to ensure that all Member States comply with the new rules as soon as possible.”

5.1.2010

Further information

Early Day Motions; http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39782&SESSION=903 and http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=39777
EU legislation on battery hens http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1999:203:0053:0057:EN:PDF