Processors must secure legal egg supplies fast
The EU Welfare of Laying Hens Directive takes effect on January 1, 2012, requiring egg producers using caged hens to keep them in roomier enhanced cages with extra facilities, rather than battery-farmed conditions.
Processors using eggs or egg product from battery-caged hens after this period will be doing so illegally.
However, some EU member states, notably Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain, are stalling on making the necessary industry changes. The British Lion Egg Processors (BLEP) estimates that more than 30% of egg product used in the UK is imported and is concerned that many of these imports will not meet the required standard.
It argues manufacturers need to be rearranging their supply chains now, because they will not be able to make up such a large shortfall from alternative suppliers at the last minute.
BLEP hopes retailers can lead the way in encouraging their suppliers to comply with the law. But so far, their response in meetings had been lacklustre, said a spokesman for the group.
“Reaction from retailers has been non-committal – not what we would have hoped.” However, he conceded they may be addressing the situation and not communicating their actions.
Consequences for non-compliance
The penalties for non-compliance remain undecided at this point. But whatever they are, BLEP argues companies also face a commercially damaging threat to their reputation if exposed by the media or consumer groups for sourcing egg product illegally.
The UK government has said it will seek to ban products not conforming to the legislation. National Farmers’ Union president Peter Kendall warned that UK producers could still be threatened by a surge of illegal eggs entering the market.
“This leaves UK producers at risk, threatened by illegal eggs. We are lobbying hard to make sure illegal imports don't end up here at home.” He said UK producers had invested £400m to ensure they met the EU rules.
Industry research in November and December 2010 commissioned by BLEP indicates an alarmingly low level of awareness of the EU Directive.
Of 24 egg buyers and technical managers in major UK food manufacturing and foodservice companies, 11 (46%) said they had not heard of any legislative change involving egg production. Only six were able to describe the change accurately.
The clock is ticking
Consequently, BLEP has launched an awareness campaign targeting retailers, retail label and branded processors, dubbed ‘The Clock is Ticking’ to rouse the food industry to action ahead of time. It is also meeting regularly with all three groups to spur them to secure legitimate supplies.
Clive Frampton, spokesman for British Lion Egg Processors, urged the industry to use British Lion certified eggs: “The British industry has a simple message: don’t be left with egg on your face – British Lion eggs and egg products will be compliant, so specify them now.”
