The implications of the welfare of laying hens directive for the egg industry

Written evidence submitted by M B Crocker Ltd (EGG 12)

It is my understanding that there is a Select Committee meeting to examine the implications of the Council Directive 1999/74/EC laying down the minimum standards for the protection of laying hens.

As a English egg producer and having recently installed Colony units with the capacity to hold 630 thousand laying hens some clarification would be appreciated as to the interpretation of the aforementioned Directive.

We have contacted a reputable representative of ADAS to help us on the interpretation of Directive 1999/74/EC in its current format, he in turn advises us that each of our cages satisfies the requirements to hold 66 birds.

The representatives of Defra seem to be using the published Legal interpretation of Andrea Gavinelli, whom actually states himself on his consultation that "the views expressed may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission".

There seems to be a lot of confusion as to how the cage area available to the hens is actually measured and what is to be included or excluded. This can have quite a significance on the poultry places within a unit, whilst not wanting to compromise the welfare of the bird on our unit alone it could result in 60 thousand places being lost.

Therefore urgent clarification is needed within the industry as to how the directive is to be interpreted

February 2011