UK egg producers under threat from European imports
Summary
By 2012 caged hen farmers will be required to provide the animals with better living conditions which could affect their sales if cheaper alternatives are imported to the UK from other European countries.
In the report 'The Welfare of Laying Hens Directive - Implications for the Egg Industry’ (HC 830) the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee warns of a potential commercial disaster over animal welfare regulations that could result in unfair competition for UK egg producers.
New rules are designed to improve conditions for caged ('battery') hens - the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive (Council Directive 1999/74/EC) which applies to businesses with over 350 laying hens provides that conventional cage systems must not be used after 01 January 2012.
Caged hens will be kept in 'enriched' cages, which have:
- more living space per hen (750 cm2 cage area per hen compared to 550 cm2 in conventional cages - less than an A4 sheet of paper);
- a nest;
- perching space;
- litter to allow pecking and scratching; and
- unrestricted access to a feed trough.
Around one third of Europe's egg production will not comply with the new welfare standards by 2012.
UK egg producers have spent around £400 million to improve conditions for laying hens, and will be left at a competitive disadvantage if cheaper, illegal and non-compliant shell eggs and egg products can be imported to the UK from other European countries.
The UK Government must press for an intra-community trade ban on the export of non-compliant eggs and egg products, and the EU Commission should initiate infraction proceedings against Member States where caged egg producers remain non-compliant.
Failure to enforce this new Directive effectively will set a worrying precedent for other legislation intended to improve the welfare of farm animals.
Found this story interesting?
Spread the news by
clicking below to add it to your bookmarking service: