Recently the Senate of the E.U. considered legislation to end the use of all forms of cage confinement of laying hens.  When conventional cages were banned over two decades ago, many producers converted to enriched colony modules that have proven to be welfare friendly and produce eggs at an acceptable cost.

The Interprofessional Organization for Eggs and Egg products (INPROVO) has warned that the well-meaning legislation would seriously impact egg production and increase prices to consumers given that production costs are approximately 30 percent higher in the E.U. for free range systems. A projected reduction approximating 13 percent will reduce the total E.U. flock to 330 million in 2024.

Elimination of confined housing is considered a retrograde step.  The organization noted, “Europe is putting at risk its self-sufficiency, its trading fabric and thousands of jobs in rural areas. This will exacerbate the problem of population decline in many areas where small and medium-sized households rely on egg production for their economic survival”.  The organization noted that protection of E.U. production is required and that the ban on enriched colony modules would be contrary to sustainability.  It is estimated that conversion to floor systems or aviaries will cost in excess of $1,200 million for Spain with little prospect of recouping capital.