Scotland may turn into the primary nation within the UK to ban egg corporations from holding chickens in cages.
The Scottish authorities has launched a session on banning using cages to accommodate laying hens for egg manufacturing.
Views are being sought on the phasing out of “enriched cages”, which provide extra room for the birds to nest, roost, scratch and relaxation than the battery or barren cages that had been banned within the UK in 2012.
Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie highlighted Holyrood’s most up-to-date programme for presidency, which included a dedication to “enhance the welfare of laying hens to make sure their confinement doesn’t negatively affect their regular behaviours”.
He added: “Vital progress has already been made in recognising the significance of animal welfare – each in authorities insurance policies and the demand from the general public within the selection they make when purchasing.
“If carried out, the ban can be one other instance of Scotland main the way in which in enhancing the welfare of animals by being the primary UK nation to ban the follow.”
The Scottish authorities stated greater than 1.1 million hens had been housed in cages in Scotland as of February 2024.
A YouGov survey in 2020 discovered nearly 9 out of 10 folks (88%) within the UK imagine utilizing cages in farming is merciless, with greater than three quarters (77%) supporting an entire ban on their use.
The Scottish authorities’s choice is for a ban on the set up of latest cages from 2030, with this adopted by an entire ban on enriched cage manufacturing from 2034.
Ministers imagine this selection “most successfully balances enhancements in fowl welfare and ensures sustainability for the laying hen sector”.
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The session additionally seeks views on banning using enriched cages from 2030, in addition to a non-regulatory choice, which might see retailers and caterers pledge to decide to cease promoting and utilizing eggs from birds stored in enriched cages by 2034.
The session will run for 12 weeks, till Tuesday 25 June.
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Mr Fairlie added: “We have seen the European Union put ahead laws to ban utilizing cages for all farmed livestock, with Luxembourg and Austria already banning them and others phasing them out.
“Within the coming weeks [we] can even name for proof on using cages within the gamebird and quail egg and meat sectors forward of consulting on phasing out cages in these sectors sooner or later.
“I might encourage everybody with an curiosity on this difficulty to participate to assist us form how we defend the welfare of laying hens.”
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