2012 cage ban to go ahead in UK

The conventional cage ban will go ahead in 2012 regardless of what happens in other EU member states, as it’s already in UK legislation.

That was the shock announcement delegates heard from DEFRA junior minister Lord Rooker at this week’s Egg and Poultry Industry Conference, held near Coventry.

The EU is currently reviewing the directive before it comes into force and UK and EU egg sector has been lobbying strongly for an extension to the 2012 date. It claims that it is impractical to rehouse the estimated 300 million birds still in cages in the remaining time.

Explaining his position, Lord Rooker stressed that he wanted certainty and that people invest in certainty.

“It’s [2012 cage ban] in UK legislation so it will happen and we will resist other countries pushing for delay.”