In March, the European Union Commission ruled against a Swedish law that banned battery cages for hens because the law conflicts with European Union regulations.
Under the law, battery cages were banned in Sweden and it was also made illegal to sell eggs from hens that were kept in the cages. The European Union has regulations that will eventually phase out the cages, but not for several more years.
The EU commission ruled that the Swedish law was invalid because it interfered with the free transport of goods among members of the EU (part of the EU’s mission is to create a unified European trade bloc).
Sweden has until May to respond to the ruling.
Source:
EU to block Swedish egg law. The Local, March 28, 2005.