In 2012, the U.K. along with most other E.U. nations transitioned from conventional cages to alternative housing systems.  The U.K. adopted enriched colony modules for confined hens and as an alternative either barns with slats or aviaries with a proportion of hens allowed access to pasture.

Pressure is now building to ban enriched colonies and it appears that animal welfare activists including the U.K. Humane League have enlisted the support of major food manufacturers.  Nestle, Kraft-Heinz and others are using their positions of influence to motivate legislation.  This response that could be considered “welfare-washing” is unnecessary given agreements with egg producers to eliminate enriched modules by 2025.

The extent of coercion is noted in the comments of Ms. Cordelia Britton, Head Of Campaigns for the Humane League who stated, “Companies that do not dedicate themselves to improving the lives of the animals in their supply chain risk being left behind and attracting negative press and campaigns in the process.”

Switzerland, Luxembourg and Austria have banned confinement systems with Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovakia due to enact bans.  It is understood that 16 million hens are still housed in enriched colony modules in the U.K.