Originally from: mona parr
                        
ENRICHED CAGES – THE WAY AHEAD

Animal Welfare Minister Elliot Morley announced today that the Government would defer a decision on banning enriched cages in England until conclusions have been received in the EU on Directive 99/74/EC, following the review proposed for 2005.
The decision follows a three month public consultation on whether to ban enriched cages for laying hens at the same time as conventional barren cages are banned in 2012.
Nearly 1,000 people and organisations responded to the consultation, which ran between July 24 and October 16, 2002.
Mr Morley said he had reached his position after thorough consideration of the comments received and the available scientific, economic and veterinary evidence. "I have concluded that as there is a lack of definitive evidence currently available, there are insufficient grounds at present to justify making a decision on a unilateral ban on enriched cages from 2012." "Because there are a range of issues to consider, not least the current stocking density set by the EU's Welfare of Laying Hens Directive, which we have concerns about, I consider that a better approach would be to review the future of enriched cages on an EU basis, when the Directive is next considered by the EU Agriculture Council in 2005."
The Minister has held a number of meetings with interested parties, including the British Egg Industry Council and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and has visited Defra's research project on enriched cages. He made it clear, however, it should not be assumed by the industry that it would be possible to adapt conventional cages to meet enriched standards or that current research programmes would come to the conclusion that enriched cages could meet welfare standards.