SPAIN has finally agreed to ban battery hens.
The government has confirmed that all battery farmers will have to switch to so-called ‘enriched’ cages or a free range system by January 2012.
The EU-wide change comes after mounting pressure from the European Network for Farm Animal Protection (Enfap).
The group sent more than 16,000 emails to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture as part of its ‘Big Move’ campaign, ensuring that farmers were prepared for the new law.
Michele Danan from Compassion in World Farming, congratulated the Spanish government for taking a step which should release up to 40 million hens from cages.
Happier
“It is fantastic news that Spain has agreed to obey the new EU law in January,” she said.
Farmers now have to submit action plans to the government in preparation of the big move.
The good news is that 64 per cent of Spaniards are prepared to pay more for eggs produced by happier hens.
