OLYMPIA—Governor Chris Gregoire signed a brighter and better future into law for egg-laying hens and farmers across the state yesterday afternoon. The bill, hailed as historic by those in the know, will significantly improve the welfare of egg-laying hens in commercial operations by establishing standards and a timeline to meet United Egg Producers (UEP) and American Humane Association (AHA) guidelines.
“The changes this bill brings to Washington’s hen care practices will transform the industry to the European Union standard for egg production, which is considered the benchmark for animal welfare innovation,” said Rep. Brian Blake, chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, and sponsor of the companion bill in the House of Representatives.
Proponents of the bill say that it will create the nation’s most rigorous program based on guidelines developed by the AHA, which in its website description states that it has been at the forefront of major advancements in protecting children, pets and farm animals from abuse and neglect since 1877.
This measure will phase out the use of “battery cage” housing for egg-laying hens and mandate use of an approved AHA housing system that requires more space, and the use of the enriched colony model. This housing model allows hens to spread their wings and turn around in their cages, and also includes elements such as nests, perches and scratching areas, which, according to the AHA, are necessary to ensuring a humane environment.
SB 5487 requires conversion to the AHA enriched colony housing system by 2026. This type of housing is identical to the standard to which the European Community is transitioning right now. Following are the provisions contained in the bill and how they will be implemented:
After January 1, 2012:
– All new cages must meet or be convertible to American Humane Association enriched colony housing standards.
– All eggs and egg products sold in the state will be certified to meet the United Egg Producers hen care standards.
January 1, 2017:
– All housing systems built after August 1, 2012 must be operated in a manner that meets American Humane Association certification standards. This increases minimum space requirements for hens from 67 sq. in. per hen to 116.3 sq. in. per hen.
January 1, 2026:
-All housing systems used to produce egg and egg products sold in Washington must at a minimum be in compliance with American Humane Association certification standards. This is a TOTAL conversion of all hen housing systems.
Tim Amlaw, president of the American Humane Certified Animal Welfare Program, celebrated Washington lawmakers for their proactive work, and stressed that “Extensive research shows that the welfare program they have approved for commercial egg laying chicken operations will most certainly significantly improve animal welfare.”
But the measure will also ensure that the seven major producers and 6.5 million egg-laying hens remain in Washington state, along with their 1,500 jobs and the $285 million the industry generates.
This bipartisan legislation is backed by the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association, the Washington Farm Bureau, the Washington State Dairy Federation, the Washington State Grange, the American Humane Association, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, the Northwest Grocery Association, and the Northwest Food Processors Association.
“Although Washington farmers have been implementing hen care improvements voluntarily for over ten years, the truth is that right now there is nothing in the law regarding mandatory hen care standards, it’s time to put them in statute,” said Blake. “The new law will speed up the transition to make Washington a national leader in hen care practices and standards, on par with the best care anywhere in the world.”