Laying hens in free range system © Dale Arey/Compassion in World Farming
Laying hens in barren battery system © Compassion in World Farming
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £147,000 in 2007/08.
Fighting for the 2012 Barren Battery Cage Ban
More and more people are aware of the serious suffering that the barren battery cage inflicts on hundreds of millions of animals each year. Some are also aware that as things stand, the worst barren battery cage is scheduled to be outlawed across all 27 members of the Europe Union from 2012. However, what many people are unaware of is the very real threat to this landmark legislation.
Nine years after achieving the initial agreement to ban the barren battery cage from 2012, there is still powerful opposition to the ban being fully implemented. Funding and support were requested from The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation and awarded to help preserve the single biggest victory for animal welfare in recent history. If the ban were to be abandoned or even diluted in the next four years, hundreds of millions of laying hens will suffer and the global farm animal welfare movement will receive a devastating blow.
Compassion in World Farming is implementing a multi-pronged approach targeting political decision makers, the food industry and consumers.
Lobbying targets UK and European politicians at all levels; food industry work, including the Good Egg Awards 2008, celebrates progressive organisations that are committing to improving the lives of 15 million laying hens by sourcing their eggs from free range or barn systems; the undercover investigations team has gathered and continues to gather footage that graphically illustrates the issues. Work with consumers has included involvement in two groundbreaking documentaries and Compassion in World Farming is proud to have been instrumental in the development of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Chicken Run and Jamie Olivier’s Fowl Dinners which have had a direct influence on consumer behaviour.
Visit the Compassion in World Farming website.