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Canada’s transition away from caged egg production begins April 1

Canada’s egg producers are phasing out cages for egg-laying hens.  The phase-out is part of the revised Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Layers from that country’s National Farm Animal Care Council.  The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies says currently, 90% of Canada’s egg-laying hens in are in cages.  But as of April 1, no new cages will be built in Canada, transitioning the country to cage-free egg production.  The phase-out is to be complete within 15 years.

In a written statement to Brownfield, the Egg Farmers of Canada says the Code is in line with the objective for a transition to alternative egg production systems, such as free range.  The organization says it’s committed to working to ensure that consumers have a choice of eggs at affordable prices. They say the transition assures there are no supply shortages and no production of eggs for which there is no market.

“The phase-out of barren battery cages is a huge win for Canada’s hens,” says Barbara Cartwright, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. “The timeline is much longer than we consider acceptable, but it doesn’t diminish how meaningful a change this is in the long-term.”