New Bill Will Improve Treatment of Egg-Laying Hens

The federal government recently introduced a bill that will institute national standards for the living conditions of egg-laying hens. The Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments of 2013 will give hens nearly double the housing space that they are currently afforded, and the animals will also be given perches, nesting boxes, and scratching areas, so they can act out their natural behaviors. Greater consumer transparency in regards to how the hens are raised is also included in the legislation, forcing manufacturers to include labels such as “eggs from caged hens,” “eggs from hens in enriched cages,” “eggs from cage-free hens,” and “eggs from free-range hens.”