The Scottish government wants to phase out the use of enriched cages for laying hens. The Edinburgh-based authority has started a consultation on the plans and asks the poultry industry for its views.
The intention is a ban on new cages in 2033 followed by a complete ban on keeping chicken in enriched cages from 2034.
The UK banned battery or barren cages in 2012. Since then, enriched cages offer more room to nest, roost, scratch and rest, according to the Scottish government, which is now responsible for agricultural policies in this part of the country. Over 1.1 million hens were housed in cages in Scotland as of February 2024. However, in 2020, a survey showed that 88% of the British public consider cages in farming as cruel and 77% of those surveyed supported a complete ban on the use of cages in farming.
The first UK nation to ban the practice
Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie: “We want to improve the welfare of laying hens to ensure their confinement does not negatively impact their normal behaviours. Significant progress has already been made in recognising the importance of animal welfare – both in government policies and the demand from the public in the choice they make when shopping. If implemented, the ban would be another example of Scotland leading the way in improving the welfare of animals by being the first UK nation to ban the practice.”
Fairlie continues: “We’ve seen the European Union put forward legislation to prohibit using cages for all farmed livestock, with Luxembourg and Austria already banning them and others phasing them out. In the coming weeks, we will also call for evidence on the use of cages in the gamebird and quail egg and meat sectors ahead of consulting on phasing out cages in those sectors in due course. I would encourage everyone with an interest in this issue to take part to help us shape how we protect the welfare of laying hens.
The British Egg Industry Council fears that the ban will lead to job losses and less export. CEO Gary Ford: “In the UK, around a quarter of eggs consumed are laid by hens kept in enriched colony cage systems, meeting demand for affordable, nutritious, high-quality food, and providing a vital option for a large section of the population, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis. In the event of a cage ban, retailers and foodservice operators will resort to importing caged eggs from outside the UK, potentially with significantly lower welfare standards.”
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