Published 22/06/2012

Despite a 12 year changeover period and an outright ban on barren battery cages across the EU in January 2012, many countries remain non-compliant.

Yesterday, the European Commission handed out final warnings to the unlawful countries: Belgium, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland and Portugal before they face possible court action in two months time.

Dil Peeling, Director of Public Affairs at Compassion in World Farming says: "This continual flouting of the law is completely unacceptable and there are no adequate excuses for keeping hens in these inhumane cages.

"I am delighted that the European Commission is continuing to enforce the ban on the barren battery cage ban and fully support their issuing of reasoned opinions today to the lawbreaking nations."

The ban that came into place earlier this year required that all hens, as a minimum, must be kept in 'enriched cages' which provides a nesting, perching and small scratching area.

Compassion urges consumers and businesses using eggs to always choose cage free eggs as these 'enriched' systems are still restrictive to a hen's natural behaviours.

The news from the European Commission means that the unlawful nations have two months before potentially being referred to the Court of Justice.

We look forward to the day in the near future when all countries in the EU fully enforce the law and barren battery cages are no longer in use.

Dil Peeling continues: "Compassion in World Farming has worked tirelessly to bring this ban into place and we will continue to do so until every EU country stops using the cruel barren battery cages."

Take action:

• Please join us in taking action today as we target the Agriculture Ministers in the nine non-compliant nations. They must ensure their country's farmers comply with the barren battery cage ban - not months further down the line when they are faced with court action and daily fines, but NOW.