News Release
01 July 2009
Havant Borough Council receives a Good Egg Award
Havant Borough Council received a ‘Good Egg’ award at a ceremony
in Harrogate today (1 July 2009) for committing to ditch the
battery cage egg in favour of eggs from free-range hens.
The Good Egg Awards have been developed by Compassion in World
Farming, the leading farm animal welfare charity, to celebrate the
commitment of companies and public sector bodies to stop using eggs
from battery caged hens. Havant Borough Council’s pioneering move
will ensure more than 48 hens supplying 13000 eggs each year will
be spared a life of misery in a cage. They will be free to carry
out many of their natural behaviours, unlike hens kept in barren
battery cage systems.
Havant Borough Council is one of a growing number of local
authorities in the UK to receive a 2009 Good Egg Award. The
recognition comes in the framework of Compassion in World Farming’s
‘Cage-free Councils’ campaign, which is gaining the support of a
growing number of concerned citizens across Great Britain.
Compassion in World Farming’s Campaigns Co-ordinator, Eloise
Shavelar said: ‘We congratulate Havant Borough Council for going
free-range and hope that other councils will follow their example.
All local authorities have a clear opportunity to lead the way in
animal welfare standards, ahead of the 2012 EU ban on barren
battery cages. Central and local government offices are important
users of eggs – they employ over 2.5 million staff with most
providing food for employees and to supply local contracts
including schools, residential units and social services."
Councillor
Tony Briggs, Leader of Havant Borough Council said: “We are
delighted to have won this award for our commitment to going
cage-free.
"In February of this year we achieved Fairtrade status,
receiving this award can only enhance the message that Havant is
committed to ensuring more sustainable foods are used.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
has recently encouraged public sector bodies to move away from
using battery eggs whether used as shell eggs or in products
containing eggs.
The issue of animal welfare in public spending has also been
supported within the House of Commons. More than 150 MPs supported
a motion tabled in 2008 calling on public bodies to procure food
with higher standards of farm animal welfare. The motion stated
that battery eggs are no longer appropriate.
Havant Borough Council joins some of the UK’s top companies in
becoming a 2009 Good Egg Award winner. They include Debenhams,
Little Chef, Starbucks Coffee, John Lewis and Virgin Trains.
To celebrate the Good Egg Awards, Compassion in World Farming is
running Bake with Compassion week from 6 – 12 July 2009 to raise
awareness for its campaign against battery caged hens. Supporters
include Kate Ford (Coronation Street’s Tracy Barlow), Sophie
Grigson, Jo Brand, Alison Steadman, Dave Spikey, David Suchet, Paul
O’Grady and Brian Blessed.