Mercy for Animals says its latest undercover video proves the need for the poultry industry to scrap the use of cages immediately.
The animal rights group says the video was shot at a Gray Ridge egg farm near Moorefield.
Egg Farmers of Ontario spokesman Bill Mitchell says they're trying to confirm whether the video was shot when and where Mercy for Animals says it was.
Mitchell says there is a rigorous inspection system in place with national standards.
"We have inspectors in each of the more than 325 layer barns in the province a minimum of 4 times annually. We perform on-farm food safety audits and animal care audits on all of those egg layer farms annually."
He goes on to point out the egg sector has already started moving towards what's called an 'enriched' housing system.
"The new enriched systems which were originally developed in Europe and provide more space per bird and perches and private nesting boxes and scratching pads so the hens have more natural behaviour opportunities are really seen as probably one of the best balances of all systems."
The proposed new national code of practice proposes the gradual transition away from individual cages.
Mercy for Animals argues that's not fast enough - and wants the code to call for the immediate end to those cages.
Mitchell says a system change like this takes time as manufacturers have to build the new structures and new barns have to be put up to house them.
He suggests trying to change over more than 5 to 10 per cent of the barns a year would be impossible to do because of the logistics involved.
===
Bill Mitchell points out the industry has a rigorous inspection system in place with national standards.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/MITCHELL-Eggs-1.mp3"][/audio]
===
But he says it's not something that can be done immediately.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/MITCHELL-Eggs-2.mp3"][/audio]
===
Mitchell says the industry is already moving away from the individual cage system.
[audio mp3="http://blackburnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/MITCHELL-Eggs-3.mp3"][/audio]
