MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the EU laying hens industry: the ban on the use of battery cages from 2012
13.12.2010
pursuant to Rule 115(5) of the Rules of Procedure
Martin Häusling on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
Alyn Smith on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0705/2010
B7‑0714/2010
European Parliament resolution on the EU laying hens industry: the ban on the use of battery cages from 2012
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Council Directive 1999/74/EC, which entered into force on 3 August 1999 and introduced a ban on the use of battery cages for the rearing of laying hens, while granting a transitional period of more than 12 years for producers to change their rearing systems,
– having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008/EC laying down detailed rules for the marketing standards for eggs,
– having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation),
– having regard to the 2008 Commission Communication No 2007/865 of 8 January 2008 on the various systems of rearing laying hens in particular those covered by Directive 1999/74/EC,
– having regard to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 798/2008, amended by Commission Regulations (EC) Nos 1291/2008 and 411/2009 and Commission Regulations (EU) Nos 215/2010, 241/2010, 254/2010, 332/2010, 925/2010 and 955/2010, which lays down a list of third countries, territories, zones or compartments from which poultry and poultry products may be imported into and transit through the Community and the veterinary certification requirements (and replaced from 1 January 2009 Commission Decision 2006/696/EC),
– having regard to Rules 115(5) and 110(2) of its Rules of Procedure,
1. Demands that all the provisions of the Directive 1999/74/EC on the welfare of laying hens be fully implemented by all Member States by the deadline of 1 January 2012; declares that any extension of the deadline, or "phase-in period" for any Member State is unacceptable, considering that producers have already had 10 years in which to comply, and would have grave ramifications for the successful and timely implementation of any future animal welfare rules;
2. Requests that the Commission launches swift and effective infraction procedures with heavy and dissuasive fines if there is a lack of compliance with all elements of the Directive;
3. Believes that egg producers and Member States who have made the effort to comply with Council Directive 1999/74/EC should not be penalised through unfair and illegal competition, especially concerning imported eggs and egg products from third countries;
4. Fully supports the standards and rules which make the EU a world leader in animal welfare and notes that these standards are demanded by our citizens, and these standards justify public financial support to agriculture through the CAP;
5. Considers factory farming and the industrialisation of animal rearing to be completely inappropriate, as it damages the environment, local communities and public health, including both agricultural workers and consumers, as well as disrespecting animal welfare;
6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.