The European Commission plans to introduce new legislation concerning the keeping of poultry and swine. According to reports from “Spiegel” magazine, the Commission intends to propose regulations for laying hens this year, with similar rules slated for pig farming in the following year. The overarching goal, as stated by the EC, is the long-term elimination of keeping laying hens in cages.
Currently, while there is no outright prohibition, various advocacy groups are working to ensure that only eggs sourced from chickens kept in open environments are sold. Furthermore, Brussels plans to ban the systematic culling of male chickens. This measure is made possible by the ability to determine the sex of an embryo during the incubation process.
The proposed regulations aim to help farmers avoid costly operational errors. These new guidelines are also expected to apply to goods imported from outside the European Union. The comprehensive scope of the legislation targets improvements across the industry, affecting the welfare and housing conditions of chickens.
The regulatory changes signal a significant shift toward higher welfare standards for farmed animals within the EU market.
Topics: #chickens #cages #according
