[Animals] Battery caged hens banned in Australia by 2036 after lengthy battle between egg industry and animal welfare groups

[FazzNoth]

In a major win for animal welfare groups “one of the worst" animal welfare issues in Australia will be phased out by 2036 - with battery cages for egg-laying hens to be banned within 14 years.

 

Australia will phase out battery cages for hens by 2036 following a lengthy  battle between the egg industry and animal welfare groups.

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines  was released on Thursday, after being under review for nearly seven years, requiring conventional layer hen cages to be phased out over the next 10 to 14 years.

If a cage system was installed before the end of 2011, it must be updated by  July 1, 2032. Those installed after 2014 must meet the new requirements by 2036.

Under the new rules, all hens that are caged with other birds must have at least 750cm sq of usable space per bird. If the hen is caged alone, it must have 1m sq of usable space.

RSPCA Australia chief executive Richard Mussell has praised the move, calling it a “significant win for animal welfare”.

“This is a win for animal advocates and for the community who have been calling for an end to these barren, wire cages for over 40 years,” he said. 

“But most importantly, it will eventually be a win for the millions of layer hens confined to battery cages."

The guidelines once implemented, will bring Australia into line with over 75% of OECD countries who have already moved to phase out battery cages.

RSPCA Australia Chief Science Officer, Dr Suzie Fowler, said that the animal welfare science was clear - that hens suffer in barren battery cages.

“This is one of the worst animal welfare issues in Australia right now,” she said.

“Good welfare simply can’t be achieved in a battery cage because the animal welfare issues are inherent to the system itself – restricted movement, constantly standing on a wire floor, and no ability for a hen to perform natural behaviours like perching, nesting and stretching and flapping her wings.

"So to finally see a phase out date put in place is very significant and we welcome today’s news.”

 

Egg Farmers of Australia, CEO Melinda Hashimoto slammed the new guidelines, labelling them a ‘slap in the face’ for our nation's cage egg farmers.

“Unfortunately, the review totally ignored evidence on why conventional cages should continue until 2046,” Ms Hashimoto said

"It’s 10 years too early and could drive many family egg farmers to the wall.

"This is because bank loans can spread over 30 years for existing cages and equipment. Farmers now don’t have time to pay-off that debt before they must dump their cages.” 

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/animal-welfare-groups-major-win-battery-caged-hens-banned-by-2036-after-lengthy-battle-between-egg-industry-and-animal-welfare-groups/news-story/10da3d885001ecf00be5d8e412fb1548