Activites

• 1999/08/03 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Directive 1999/74
  • OJ L 203 03.08.1999, p. 0053
• #2199
• 1999/07/19 Council Meeting
• 1999/07/19 End of procedure in Parliament
• 1999/07/19 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• #2190
• 1999/06/14 Council Meeting
• 1999/05/12 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1999)0223 summary

    The Commission amended its initial proposal to take account of the amendments put forward by the European Parliament.�

• 1999/01/28 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0054/1999 summary

    The Parliament adopted the legislative report by Heinz Kindermann (D, PES), which approves the Commission's proposal with amendments, relating, most notably, to the following areas: - prohibiting the use of battery cages from 1st January 2009; - proposing the introduction of an additional aid system for adaptation to the new required standards which is not dependent on production; - mandatory labelling for egg products as well as table eggs; - in the event of EU enlargement, making provision for the application of these rules in the applicant countries; - ensuring accordance of eggs used in egg products imported from outside the Community with the Community's own minimum standards for the protection of laying hens; - allowing beak-trimming to continue until less aggressive strains of laying hens have been bred; - providing further specification of nesting requirements; - allowing a stocking density of no more than 20 hens per square metre; - requiring a minimum of 800 cm sq of cage area for each hen; - making on-the-spot checks by veterinary experts a requirement; - requiring the Commission to make regular reports to the Council and the European Parliament on the results of veterinary inspections; - applying the same welfare, veterinary and hygiene standards to imports from third countries as within the Community; - requiring the Commission to make proposals, not later than 1st January 2008, for encouraging the adoption of alternative free range systems of rearing; - extending safety requirements as regards insulation, heating and ventilation of the building beyond protection of the birds to protection of the people working there; - specifying that lighting strength must be at least 20 Lux, measured at the eye-level of the birds.�

• 1999/01/27 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 1998/12/07 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0481/1998
• #2118
• 1998/09/28 Council Meeting
  • 2118
• 1998/04/03 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• #2073
• 1998/03/16 Council Meeting
  • 2073
• 1998/03/11 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1998)0135 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to establish minimum standards for the protection of laying hens kept in various systems of rearing. SUBSTANCE: the Commission is proposing to replace Directive 88/166/EEC by a new Directive covering the welfare of all laying hens, not only those kept in cages. The proposal, accompanied by a Commission communication is based on the opinion of the Scientific Veterinary Committee (SVC) adopted at its meeting of 30 October 1996. General requirements applicable to all systems of rearing are introduced, including requirements for nests, perches and litter. However, derogations from the latter requirements are provided for in respect of cages, which must meet improved specifications. A phasing-in period for the new requirements is proposed, to allow existing systems to be written off over a ten year period. The provisions of the Annex have been brought up to date and set out in the form adopted in the Council Directives on the protection of calves and pigs. Provision is made for inspection and reporting by the competent authority and for inspections by the Commission. �

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1998)0135
• Debate in Council: 2073
• Debate in Council: 2118
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0481/1998
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0054/1999
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1999)0223
• : Directive 1999/74
• : OJ L 203 03.08.1999, p. 0053

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)