Salem, Ore. — Oregonians for Humane Farms (OHF) recently gathered nearly 2,000 signatures to satisfy the first legal requirement and start gathering signatures to place the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the November 2012 Oregon ballot. However, in light of a promising new agreement reached between animal welfare groups and the United Egg Producers to jointly push for federal legislation to improve the welfare of all 280 million laying hens in the nation, OHF is officially suspending its signature-gathering campaign and is hopeful that this national agreement will obviate the need for an Oregon ballot measure.
Press Release
Oregonians for Humane Farms Applauds Agreement to Pass Federal Law on Laying Hen Welfare
Press Release
Oregonians for Humane Farms Applauds Agreement to Pass Federal Law on Laying Hen Welfare
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Federal proposal reaches higher standard than recently enacted state law — applying to all 280 million hens in the nation
The federal proposal supported by animal welfare groups and the egg industry would:
mandate labeling on all egg cartons nationwide to inform consumers of the method used to produce the eggs, such as “eggs from caged hens” or “eggs from cage-free hens”;
prohibit forced molting through starvation — an inhumane practice which is inflicted on tens of millions of hens each year and which involves withholding all food from birds for up to two weeks in order to manipulate the laying cycle;
require a moratorium on new construction after 2011 of barren battery cages — small, cramped cages that nearly immobilize more than 90 percent of laying hens today — and the nationwide elimination of the existing cages through a phase-out period;
require phased-in construction of new hen housing systems that provide each hen nearly double the amount of space they’re currently provided;
require environmental enrichments so birds can engage in important natural behaviors currently denied to them in barren cages, such as perches, nesting boxes, and scratching areas;
prohibit excessive ammonia levels in henhouses — a common problem in the industry that is harmful to both hens and egg industry workers;
require standards for euthanasia practices; and
prohibit the sale of all eggs and egg products (including liquid and powder) nationwide that don’t meet these requirements.
Some of the new law’s provisions will be implemented nearly immediately after enactment, such as those relating to molting, ammonia, and euthanasia, and others after just a few years, including labeling and the requirement that all birds will have to have at least 67 square inches of space each. (Currently, approximately 50 million laying hens are confined at only 48 square inches each.)
“For too long, animals on factory farms have had no federal protection from even the most heinous abuse. This new federal bill would ensure modest yet historic improvements for egg-laying hens, and we encourage Oregonians to urge their lawmakers to enact it as soon as possible,” stated Gene Baur, President and Co-founder of Farm Sanctuary.
“Oregonians for Humane Farms was heartened by the response from the public while collecting the initial signatures,” stated Kristin Sulis, DVM, OHF’s co-chief petitioner. “With the prospect of making a historic difference in the lives of nearly 280 million egg-laying hens, we look forward to working to enact federal reform inclusive of all laying hens across the country.”
Facts
About 2 million egg-laying hens in Oregon spend their entire lives inside cages where each hen has less space than a sheet of paper.
Oregon lawmakers passed SB 805A, which addressed hen welfare, but requires less space than this federal bill would and does not contain many of the other important provisions, such as mandatory labeling of production methods on egg cartons. As well, unlike SB 805A, this proposed federal policy doesn’t contain a laundry list of exemptions for “liquid eggs,” and instead applies to the sale of all eggs and egg products.
Oregonians for Humane Farms is a coalition of animal welfare, family farming, food safety, and environmental groups working to place an important measure on this November’s statewide ballot to prevent the extreme confinement of egg-laying hens in tiny cages for nearly their entire lives.
About Farm Sanctuary
Founded in 1986, Farm Sanctuary works to change how our society views and treats farm animals through rescue, education and advocacy. The organization provides lifelong care for animals rescued from abuse at sanctuary locations in New York and California; promotes compassionate vegan living; and advocates legal and policy reforms. To learn more about Farm Sanctuary, visit farmsanctuary.org.
