April 30, 2013

Non-compliance of battery cages in Italy, Greece ruffles feathers in UK

The National Farmers Union (NFU) of Scotland and England have criticised the European Commission for not taking swift action against Italy and Greece for failing to implement the EU ban on conventional battery cages.

The legislation was introduced in January 2012, requiring all EU egg producers to use only enriched cages, barns or free range production systems. However, despite repeated calls from the European Commission, Italy and Greece are still not compliant with the new rules and the European Commission has announced that the two countries will now be taken before the Court of Justice.

The decision to take action against Italy and Greece was welcomed by the NFU, but it queried what actions will be taken against other countries that were also very late complying.

"Just a month ago, the Commission said there were a total of four non-compliant member states...Italy, Greece, Poland and Cyprus. Now it's confirmed that Italy and Greece are the worst offenders but the others were at least 15 months late [complying and yet seem to be off the hook."

"Belgium, Hungary, Spain and Portugal have not had an inspection to establish that they are now compliant and no inspections are scheduled for 2103. As no further action seems to have been taken against them, then there is no verification that they now meet the new [EU] regulations."