Eggs and poultry sector

What was negotiated on welfare of hens?

The EU gives great importance to animal welfare. Not just to protect the animals themselves - which is important in itself - but also to safeguard public confidence in food production. Here, Malta requested a three-year transitional period for the implementation of EU standards on the protection of laying hens that are kept in battery cages. This request involves some 290,000 hens in 30 establishments. The transitional period was requested so that poultry farms in Malta can have enough time to restructure and control the stock density of hens. The EU accepted Malta's request and agreed to a transitional period until the end of 2006 for minor construction elements (height and floor slope only), covering only those existing cages in 12 of the listed establishments which have a minimum height of 36cm over 65 per cent of the cage area and elsewhere at least 33cm and floor slope not greater than 16 per cent. All other EU requirements must be complied with by membership. Other farms that are not yet fully in line with EU animal welfare rules for laying hens cages should be fully compliant with EU standards by accession.