Battery Hens (Hansard, 20 January 1988)

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of, and basis of calculation for, the cost to the Welsh egg industry of adapting to EEC legislation on battery cages;
(2) what is his estimate of, and basis of calculation for, the recurring costs of compliance with the additional requirements for three, two and one birds under the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987 for egg producers in Wales.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
EC directive 86/113 places inescapable obligations on all member states. The cost of compliance will vary from producer to producer according to the type of cage in use, its age, and how the space allowance and other requirements contained in the directive are to be met. No estimate of the aggregate cost to Welsh producers is available.
The same consideration will largely apply in the context of the allowances for three, two and one birds specified in the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987.

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect on the numbers 713W of Welsh egg producers of compliance with the additional requirements for three, two and one birds contained in the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
No information is available on the numbers of egg producers who may cease production, if any.

§ Mr. Livsey
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he proposes to take to ensure that Welsh egg farmers are not put at a competitive disadvantage with their European counterparts in the implementation of the provisions of EEC directive 86/113.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
EEC directive 86/113 lays down minimum standards. Other than in situations where fewer than four birds are housed in a cage, these minimum standards will apply in the United Kingdom. In the majority of cases, therefore, Welsh farmers will be in an identical situation to most of their European counterparts, though it is worth pointing out that in Denmark and in West Germany national rules will be somewhat stricter than the directive. We shall be keeping the matter under review.