Battery hen law ignored by 13 EU countries

Farming Minister Jim Paice said that there was “no excuse” for countries to fail to comply with the new rules, which comes into force on January 1.

Despite British farmers spending £400m to comply, 13 European Union countries have said they will not meet the terms of the directive by the start of next month, with 50m hens estimated to still be in battery cages.

Yesterday MPs lined up to condemn the actions of EU farmers as Mr Paice sought to reassure them about the impact of a voluntary agreement struck with many food companies and retailers not to use conventional caged eggs.

Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk, Malton and Filey and chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs select committee, said she was “very disappointed” the Government has not been able to impose a unilateral ban on eggs and egg products which do not comply with the directive unveiled 12 years ago.

Mr Paice “strongly resented and resisted” accusations he had done nothing and also rejected the “hysterical comments that have been made by those who allegedly represent the industry”.

“The provision has been in existence for 12 years, since the 1999 directive that bans the keeping of hens in conventional battery cages from 1 January,” he said. “It has been widely welcomed on all sides of the debate, even from those who would prefer it to go further.

“I have said in the Agriculture Council and in this country that every country has had 12 years to prepare. Even the newer member states, which were not members at that time, knew what they were signing up to. There is no excuse, in the Government’s view, for any country not to have done everything it could to ensure that its producers comply.”