Please Note: United Poultry Concern's support for a ban on battery
cages does not mean that we support alternative egg-production
systems. We do not support crowded indoor alternatives to battery
cages, or any use of chickens. We support veganism.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Karen Davis 757-678-7875
Glenys Oogjes (03) 9329 6333
E-mail: animals@melbpc.org.au
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GLOBAL GOOD NEWS FOR BATTERED HENS
Animal Groups Around the World Hail Australian Consensus:
"Battery Cages Must Go!"
Animals Australia Director Glenys Oogjes has announced that all
eight State and Territory Agriculture Ministers agreed on March
3, 2000 that a phase out of battery cages is necessary. "This is
an amazing turn around since their last meeting in August 1999,"
said Oogjes, "when only 4 of the 8 Ministers were supportive of a
phase out of the cruel battery cage system. It shows that the
Ministers have been listening to mounting community concern about
the welfare of battery hens."
The Ministers will soon release a discussion paper for public
consultation. The response to the paper will assist their
decision at the next meeting in Brisbane in August 2000. The
Ministers will also directly consult with welfare groups to
determine the detailed recommendations for phase out in
preparation for that meeting.
The Ministers also agreed to introduce a national labeling
system for egg cartons. The type of hen housing of ALL eggs will
be indicated. Currently, accurate labeling of egg cartons is in
place only in the ACT. The labeling system will be developed by
the Government and the egg industry, in consultation with animal
welfare groups over the next 12 months.
Animals Australia Director Glenys Oogjes said: "We welcome this
vindication of such a strong public feeling against confining
hens in tiny cages. The Ministers have now accepted that it is
cruel to keep a hen in a barren space smaller than an A4 piece of
paper. We now urge the Ministers not to give way to industry
pressure. The industry has ignored animal welfare concerns for
two decades and now reality has caught up with them.
"Animals Australia and animal groups in Australia and overseas
will not let up on the pressure." Oogjes announced. "We will not
stop until the hens can dustbathe, lay their eggs in a nest,
preen their feathers and strut their stuff!. Battery cages can
then take their rightful place rusting in landfill dumps or
recycled as concrete reinforcement!"
For updates contact: Glenys Oogjes, Director, Animals Australia:
03 9329 6333, or 041 431 2552. E-mail: animals@melbpc.org.au
Website: www.melbourne.net/animals_australia/
Animals Australia is the Australian arm of the Australian and New
Zealand Federation of Animal Welfare Societies Inc. Mailing
address: 37 O'Connell Street, North Melbourne 3051
United Poultry Concerns. March 8, 2000
United Poultry Concerns, Inc.
PO Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405-0150
757-678-7875
FAX: 757-678-5070
www.upc-online.org
(Australian Ministers Say Battery Cages Must Go!)
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