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Written question asked by Lord Laird (Non-affiliated) on Thursday, 5 March 2015, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 March 2015. It was answered by Lord De Mauley (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 March 2015 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Poultry: Animal Welfare

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 9 December 2013 (WA 80), whether Italy and Greece remain non-compliant with the European Union's 2012 conventional hen cage ban; what the result was of the referral of those countries to the European Court of Justice; when formal hearings on the matter were held; and whether they have sought further meetings with the relevant European Union Commissioner to discuss the issue.

Answer

No further information has been provided by the Commission in terms of progress towards compliance in these two Member States. As a first step in the infraction process, both Italy and Greece were taken to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to comply with the cage ban. The Court found Italy (in May 14) and Greece (in September 14) guilty and ordered them to pay court costs. If Italy and Greece do not provide evidence of full compliance after a ‘reasonable time’ (determined on a case by case basis), the Commission can take them both back to the ECJ where penalties could be imposed.

The Commission does not disclose detailed information relating to on-going infringement cases.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL5485
Session
2014-15
Related items
EU: Eggs
Monday, 9 December 2013
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects
Animal welfare EU law Greece Poultry European Court of Justice Italy
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk