Label law change for eggs

THE farm animal welfare group, Compassion in World Farming, welcomed new egg labelling laws that came into force yesterday.

Eggs must now be clearly labelled with regard to the method of production. The new labelling system is compulsory under EU law.

The new labelling law requires egg packs to carry one of three terms - free-range eggs, barn eggs, eggs from caged hens. The requirements for each of these terms is now defined in EU law.

Mary-Anne Bartlett, Director of Compassion in World Farming-Ireland, said this is the first time that any food is required by law to be labelled with regard to the method of production.

“It is a major step forward for hen welfare because consumers can now choose to support welfare-friendly free-range systems by only buying eggs labelled free-range eggs. CIWF said there are about 1.89 million laying hens in the Republic of Ireland, and about 75% of these (some 1.4 million birds) are kept in battery cages. The rest are in alternative systems.

n June 1999, following a successful campaign by CIWF and other animal welfare groups, the European Union voted to ban battery cages for egg-laying hens.

From the year 2003, no new battery cage systems may be constructed in any EU country (including the Republic of Ireland) and the battery cage will be completely outlawed across the EU from 2012.

CIWF said this is a long phase-out period during which hens will continue to be kept in battery cages in the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the EU.