Brussels - The French presidency of the European Union said Friday there would be no delay to a planned ban by 2012 of the tiny "battery" cages used by many producers for laying hens.

"I would not like us to go back on that date. I would not like to see it postponed. The council position is that battery farming should cease on that day," French Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier told the European Parliament.

Animal rights activists have long campaigned against the use of conventional battery cages, where floor space is the equivalent of a sheet of A4 paper. This prevents hens from making even the most basic of movements, such as spreading their wings or even turning around.

The EU has decided to ban such cages as from January 1, 2012. But many producers, particularly in Spain, have held back from investing in newer cages in the hope that the EU might delay the ban.

The ministers' comments were welcomed by Eurogroup for Animals, a pressure group.

"There is no longer an excuse not to be working on replacing the conventional cages. France has clearly stated that it is against any delays of the ban," said its director, Sonja Van Tichelen.

Under the new rules, producers will only be allowed to keep hens in cages measuring almost double the current size. Moreover, the larger cages will also have space for a nest and to hold the dust used by the animals to clean their feathers.

In fact, the EU is encouraging producers to let chickens run around barns or outdoors.

Animal rights groups note that consumer demand for free-range eggs has shot up in recent years and that many supermarkets have voluntarily stopped selling eggs produced by caged hens. (dpa)