EU regulations are quite clear and simple. So why did Jill Bowis lose
her Free Range status?
What animal welfare issues did she fail to comply with?
EC Regulations
3.2 Barn Eggs
All newly built/rebuilt production units and, as from 1 January 2007,
all existing production units must be equipped so that all laying hens
have:
Stocking density:
Existing sites stocked prior to 3 Aug 1999 - 12 hens per m 2 until 31
December 2011
Existing sites stocked between 3 Aug 1999-1Jan 2002 - 12 hens per m 2
until 1 Jan 2007
New sites - not greater than 9 hens per m 2 usable area
Feeders:
linear feeders providing 10cm per bird or
circular feeders providing at least 4cm per bird
Drinkers:
continuous drinking troughs providing 2.5cm per hen or
circular drinking troughs providing 1cm per hen or
nipple drinkers or cups so that there shall be at least 1 drinker for
every 10 hens
Nests:
at least one nest for every 7 hens or
at least 1m 2 of group nest space for a maximum of 120 hens
Perching:
at least 15 centimetres of perch space for each hen
30cm of horizontal space between perches and
20cm between perches and the wall
perches must not be mounted above the litter
Litter:
250cm 2 of litter area per hen
the litter occupying at least one third of the ground surface
Multi level units:
no more than 4 levels
hens can move freely between levels
the headroom between levels must be at least 45cm
the drinking and feeding facilities must be distributed in such a way
as to provide equal access to all hens
the levels must be arranged as to prevent dropping falling on the
levels below
3.3 Free Range Eggs
In addition to the requirements set out in Section 3.2 Free Range hens
must also have:
Pop holes:
there must be several pop holes giving direct access to the outer area
each pop hole must be at least 35cm high and 40cm wide
pop holes must extend along the entire length of the building
a total opening of 2m must be available per group of 1,000 hens
Range:
continuous daytime access to open-air runs, except in the case of
tem****ary restrictions imposed by veterinary authorities
mainly covered with vegetation and not used for other purposes except
for orchards, woodland and livestock grazing if the latter is
authorised by the Egg Marketing Inspectorate;
the maximum external stocking density is not greater than 2,500 hens
per hectare of ground available to the hens, or one hen per 4 m_ at
all times
not extending beyond a radius of 150m from the nearest pop hole of the
building; an extension of up to 350m from the nearest pop hole of the
building is permissible provided that there exists an even
distribution of drinking troughs and shelters throughout the entire
run, with at least 4 shelters per hectare
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