July 14, 2020

 

Colorado, US signs bill to make all hen-housing cage-free by 2025

 

 

The Governor of Colorado, the United States has signed a bill for all hen-housing in the state to converted to cage-free types by 2025.

 

The conversion will happen by 2025. With the bill signed by Governor Jared Polis, Colorado joins California, Oregon, Washington in the West, Rhode Island and Michigan back East by dictating the sale of only cage-free eggs.

 

Unlike some states, Colorado imposed the changes on producers with a legislative act, not a public ballot measure. Western Colorado Democrats state Senator Kerry Donovan and state Rep. Dylan Roberts were sponsors of the bill known as HB20-1343.

 

Colorado has more than 250 egg-producing farm families. Colorado eggs are distributed in the state and Arizona, California, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, and Wyoming.

 

Colorado hens are also very productive producing 291 eggs per hen for a total of 1.3 billion eggs annually, ranking Colorado 23rd in the United States in egg production.  Colorado's gross income from egg production tops US$100 million per year.

 

After January 1, 2023, poultry producers are not permitted by the bill to sell shell eggs or egg products produced  by egg-laying hens that are confined in a manner violating the new standards.

 

Operators who violated the standards can face a fine of up to US$1,000 per violation.

 

Cage-free egg legislations have forced farmers to create new housing facilities including scratching areas, perches, nest boxes and dust-bathing areas. These cage-free housing systems also incorporate adequate lighting and ventilation.

 

Egg producers estimate it will cost them about US$30 per bird, totaling about US$165 million for the industry in Colorado.

 

Once the bill is fully phased in, about six million hens will be living cage-free.

 

- Food Safety News