Battery cages for egg-laying hens will be a thing of the past as global cage-free movement continues to gain
momentum

◊ By Radhika Rao

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Over the last few decades, the poultry industry has increasingly intensified housing systems for egg-laying hens. The majority of India’s egg-laying hens are confined in small barren wire cages—known as battery cages—for their entire lives. These cages do not allow the birds to so much as spread their wings, let alone exhibit their natural behaviours, such as nesting, perching and dust-bathing. Each egg-laying hen gets a space that is a size less than an A4-sized sheet of paper to live on for the entire duration of her life. This has raised severe animal welfare concerns.

The majority of India’s egg-laying hens are confined to spaces even smaller than an A4-sized sheet of paper for their ENTIRE LIVES. The small barren wire cages (battery cages) that the hens are kept in do not allow the birds to so much as spread their wings, let alone exhibit natural behaviours such as nesting, perching and dust-bathing

BATTERY CAGES WILL BE OUTPHASED ON GLOBAL SCALE

While the demand for eggs is definitely on the rise, particularly in emerging economies like India, increasing consumer concern for animal welfare in the food supply chain has caused significant advancements in the improvement of welfare standards for egg-laying hens.

Many countries are adopting regulatory policies for housing of egg-laying hens, which allow for a higher standard of animal welfare. The usage of battery cages for egg-laying hens has been banned in the EU since 2012. New Zealand, Switzerland, seven US states (Rhode Island, Michigan, Ohio, Washington, Massachusetts, California and Oregon) and Bhutan also prohibit the use of battery cages to house hens.

Furthermore, several countries are adopting import and export barriers to prevent animal-based food products derived from low animal welfare facilities. For example, in 2018, the state of California in the USA passed a law allowing only eggs that come from higher welfare facilities to be sold in the market. Additionally, in 2016, the Canadian egg industry association, Egg Farmers of Canada, committed to gradually transition to cage-free egg facilities entirely.

With India being the 3^rd largest producer (at approx. 3.97 mn tonne) of eggs in the world, as well as, among the leading egg exporters globally, the growing intolerance against battery cages is of great significance to the Indian egg industry. As battery-caged eggs become increasingly outlawed across countries, more Indian egg producers will need to convert to cage-free systems

In this vein, various food industry conglomerates have taken steps to bolster their CSR initiatives by committing to transition to cage-free egg procurement exclusively in their food supply chains. Food manufacturers such as Nestlé and Unilever, fast food chains Subway, Burger King, and McDonalds, food service companies such as Sodexo and Compass Group, players in the hospitality industry such as Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International, and also retail chains Walmart and Carrefour—all have formally committed to transition fully or in part (across certain countries of operation) to cage-free egg procurement, including shell and liquid eggs, by 2025. Accor Hotels has also pledged to completely eliminate battery-caged eggs from its supply chain in Europe by 2020, and in remaining markets by 2028.

The usage of battery cages for egg-laying hens has been banned in the EU since 2012. New Zealand, Switzerland, seven US states and Bhutan also prohibit the use of battery cages to house hens;
© Humane Society International

Subway serves only cage-free eggs in its outlets in Europe and also uses such eggs in select areas in the United States and Canada. By 2025, the sandwich chain will source only cage-free eggs for all its north American outlets.

With India being the 3^rd largest producer (at approx. 3.97 mn tonne) of eggs in the world, as well as, among the leading egg exporters globally, these developments are of great significance to the Indian egg industry. As battery farming continues to be outlawed across countries, more Indian egg producers will need to convert to cage-free systems.

Cage-free farming is being pioneered in India by The Happy Hens Farm and Keggfarms. The Happy Hens Farm, which has its egg farm in Mullipatti, Tamil Nadu, has implemented standards set by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), ensuring at least 45 sq ft of range per bird

UNILEVER, NESTLÉ & OTHERS HAVE FORMED COALITION FOR ANIMAL WELFARE IN GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

Recently, the largest food businesses in the world formed the Global Coalition for Animal Welfare (GCAW), the first industry-led coalition aimed at advancing animal welfare globally. Its 7 founding members are Sodexo, Compass Group, Unilever, Nestlé, Elior Group, IKEA Food Services and Aramark—who will jointly work with multidisciplinary experts from academia, the industry, civil society and inter-governmental organisations. In countries like the USA, almost 70% of the demand for eggs comes from food businesses. Thus, these landmark developments led by large food businesses are contributing to a revolutionary change that is imminent in the global food supply chain.

Asia, too, is not far behind in joining the cage-free movement. CP Foods (Charoen Pokphand Foods), one of the world’s leading agro-industrial and food multinationals, will transition all company-owned layer hen farms in Thailand to cage-free production systems. Other major Asian egg producers such as Betagro in Thailand and San Miguel Corporation in the Philippines already offer cage-free eggs.

        COUNTRIES THAT HAVE BANNED BATTERY CAGES

• All EU countries
• New Zealand
• 7 US states: Rhode Island, Michigan, Ohio, Washington, Massachusetts, California, Oregon
• Bhutan
• Switzerland
• Canada – phaseout in progress

Cage-free farming is being pioneered by a number of producers in India—The Happy Hens Farm and Keggfarms, headquartered in Bengaluru and Haryana respectively, are a few examples. “Our production is guided by three core values—humane practices, nutrition and economic upliftment,” says cofounder of The Happy Hens Farm, Manjunath Marappan. The Happy Hens, which has its farm in Mullipatti, Tamil Nadu, has implemented standards set by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and ensures at least 45 sq ft of range per bird.
CAGE-FREE FACILITIES FOR HENS

The concept of cage-free farming is not new; it has been the traditional method of farming for decades.

Alternate housing systems, ie, cage-free facilities, allow egg-laying hens to exhibit several of their vital behaviours, such as walking, spreading their wings, perching, and laying eggs in nest boxes. Various types of cage-free housing systems exist, and they are commercially viable. These include single level barns, aviary systems, etc. Producers have a variety of options to choose from.

Many countries are adopting import and export barriers to prevent animal-based food products derived from facilities using battery cages. Nestlé, Unilever, Subway, Burger King, McDonalds, Sodexo, Compass Group, Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International—all have formally committed to transition to cage-free eggs by 2025

Cage-free eggs are not only popular worldwide, but they are also gaining favour with conscious consumers in India. The time is ripe for our food and hospitality businesses to join in this growing ethical movement and commit to going 100% cage-free across their food supply chains.

The author is Campaign Manager for Institutional Veg Outreach, Humane Society International, India