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UK compliance with battery cage egg ban
Image: dailylife.com
Government confirms UK battery-cage free

The government has confirmed that the United Kingdom is now completely free of battery cages. The egg industry and the government attracted criticism last month when it was found that 300,000 chickens were still being kept in outlawed battery cages on a total of 30 farms across the UK despite the ban on such cages having come into force on January 1st 2012. The outstanding cases constituted approximately 1% of the UK's chicken population.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) had originally projected the achievement of full compliance at February 1st 2012. This projection was underlined by the threat of legal action against farmers that continued to use battery cages. It is thought that approximately 46 million hens remain in battery cages across the European Union, and the European Commission has begun legal proceedings against Spain, Romania, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, Latvia, Hungary, Italy, Greece, France, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Belgium. 

Compassion in World Farming has welcomed the news, and has declared itself ‘delighted’ that the UK ‘is now rid of the cruel cages, 13 long years after the decision was taken to ban them’. Commenting, Senior Campaigns Manager Emma Slawinski said “We were horrified to learn that there were still battery cages in this country in January, as the industry and government had been confidently saying the UK would be in line with the new law. But we’re delighted that DEFRA has acted quickly and made sure hens in this country are no longer kept in these cruel systems. Now the UK can put all the necessary pressure on the European Commission and other member states without being accused of not having our own house in order.”

Ms Slawinski added that the extent of non-compliance in the UK was 'nowhere near as bad' as in states like Spain and Italy. It was Ms Slawinski's opinion that the aforementioned states ‘don’t seem to have made any effort at all to comply with the ban’.

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FIVP announces third series of Practice Matters

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) has announced a third season of its podcast, Practice Matters.

Hosted by Ian Wolstenholme, series three will focus on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, including a discussion about some of the expected impacts on independent veterinary colleagues.

Episode one launches on 13th January with guests Drs David Reader and Scott Summers, who will draw on their research into the CMA investigation and provide insights into themes such as transparency, pricing and consumer trust.

Ian Wolstenholme said: "In its third series, we will try and hone in on what the changes will mean in reality for independent practices with advice and guidance on implementation and delivery, drawing on the experience of our own team and other experts in the profession. Hope you can join us soon!" 

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk