The Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs has said that the statement by the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, John Dalli, warning that the Commission will be launching legal action in the coming days against 14 EU Member States, including Malta, for incorrectly implementing Council Directive 1999/74/EC on egg-laying hens.
The Ministry said that “the Directive in question, which applies only to establishments with 350 or more egg-laying hens, allowed such establishments in EU Member States to use un-enriched cages for egg-laying hens only until 31 December 2011.”
“All establishments in Malta are now in line with the provisions of this Directive and the Maltese authorities have officially informed the Commission accordingly,” the Ministry concluded.