July 20, 2011
www.gfb.org
Vol. 29 No. 29
EGG PRODUCERS, HSUS AGREE TO PETITION FOR WELFARE STANDARD On July 7 the United Egg Producers (UEP), the nation’s largest cooperative of egg farmers, reached an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) under which the two organizations would petition the federal government to enact new animal welfare standards, to include the use of “enriched cages.” “America’s egg producers have continually worked to improve animal welfare, and we strongly believe our commitment to a national standard for hen welfare is in the best interest of our animals, customers and consumers,” said UEP Chairman Bob Krouse. Farm Bureau has traditionally opposed efforts to legislate animal care standards, preferring instead that welfare criteria be established using science-based methods. The proposed standards under the agreement would require cages currently used by more than 90 percent of U.S. commercial layers to be replaced with new enriched housing systems. The standards would apply to all commercial layers in the U.S. and the industry costs are estimated at $4 billion over the next 15 to 17 years. The enriched cage systems would double the amount of space of most hen cages currently in use and provide perches, nesting boxes and scratching areas, according to a joint press release from the UEP and HSUS. The proposed legislation mandates labeling on all egg cartons informing consumers of the method used in production, would create euthanasia standards for egg-laying hens to be approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association and would prohibit the sale of eggs or egg products that don’t meet the requirements. The joint release indicated that the proposed legislation, if enacted by Congress, would supersede state laws concerning animal welfare, including those that have been passed recently in Arizona, California, Michigan and Ohio. “We are committed to working together for the good of the hens in our care and believe a national standard is far superior than a patchwork of state laws and regulations that would be cumbersome for our customers and confusing to consumers,” Krouse said. The HSUS agreed to halt its undercover videotaping at U.S. poultry operations and cease pursuit of an additional state legislative or ballot initiatives. HSUS has pursued 44 ballot initiatives in 19 states since 1996, including ones in Florida, Arizona and California centering on gestation housing for animal agriculture operations.