UK Government to break promises on animal cruelty?

Two of the most remarkable animal welfare reforms, achieved by the UK Government, could well be under threat. Ironically, it is the Government itself that appears to be considering undermining both the EU ban on barren battery cages and the UK ban on debeaking for laying hens.

The pro-welfare northern European states, such as Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Finland, are firmly opposed to any postponement of the historic EU ban on barren battery cages. This is due to come into force on 1st January 2012. The UK too has consistently opposed a postponement. Until now, it appears.

As revealed in the Daily Mail, the UK is now quietly lobbying Brussels for changes in the law. The suggested changes would allow producers who - unlawfully - are still using barren battery cages after January 2012 to sell these eggs, so long as they weren't for export. If the proposal is accepted, illegally produced eggs could be sold in the country of production. And in so doing, the ban would be postponed, at least partially. Not quite what was intended in 1999 when the then Labour Minister, Nick Brown MP, negotiated an end to perhaps the cruellest of all factory farm systems.

And why is this suggestion being put forward? Due to fears that some producers might not comply with the law, despite having had a decade to get ready for the ban. The approach, suggested behind the scenes by the Government's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), is inconsistent with its public 'no postponement' position. It would lead to just that - a postponement - albeit for eggs produced for domestic consumption.

What is so appalling is that the Government's bizarre suggestion would not only allow illegally-produced eggs to be sold in this country, but would reward those producers who have done least in the face of a generous phase-out period for battery cages. It would also condemn countless hens to yet more years of misery in a system that is both cruel and unnecessary.

Thankfully, the UK is alone amongst the pro-welfare north-western Member States; the others are firmly opposed to any postponement.

And all this comes at a time when we know that the UK Government is considering an open-ended delay on the ban on debeaking for laying hens due to come into force in 2011. This follows advice from its national welfare advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council, which effectively and misguidedly suggested an indefinite postponement. A Government consultation is due to take place over the coming weeks. However Defra has already made clear that it does want to postpone the ban on debeaking indefinitely.

Sadly, the promised end to some of the worst farming practices looks less certain. Please join our campaign to ensure that the UK Government stays firmly behind its own welfare reforms. Please send an urgent e-card to the Minister and show him that the public expects promises to be kept, especially when ending cruelty to animals.

On behalf of the millions of hens caged and mutilated, I thank you.