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Free-Range Hens

Volume 329: debated on Tuesday 20 April 1999

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To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's definition of free-range hens. [81270]

[holding answer 19 April 1999]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to free-range egg production from hens. Before eggs can be marketed as free-range, EU Commission Regulations require, among other things, that the hens have continuous daytime access to open air runs, mainly covered with vegetation. They also specify maximum outdoor and indoor stocking densities.