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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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RUMA CA&E extends survey deadline

News Story 1
 RUMA CA&E has extended the deadline for its online survey into vaccine availability.

Vets, SQPs, retailers and wholesalers will now have until Friday, 26 September at 5pm to submit their response.

The survey aims to further understanding into the vaccine supply challenges faced by the sector. It will also consider the short and long term impacts of disruption issues.

Insights are anonymous, and will be shared with industry stakeholders and government bodies.

The survey can be accessed here

Click here for more...
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Dechra launches checklist for veterinary sustainability

Global animal health specialist Dechra has announced the world's first Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC) to help make surgery more sustainable.

Endorsed by leading veterinary organisations, including the BEVA, BVNA and RCVS Knowledge, the checklist is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of veterinary care, while supporting better animal health outcomes.

The checklist was launched at the World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Paris and will be followed by an internal training and awareness campaign. For more information, visit dechra.com