UK producers 99% compliant with EU egg ban

18-Jan-2012 - Last updated on 19-Jan-2012 at 10:20 GMT

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99% of all UK egg producers are now compliant with EU legislation

Nearly all (99%) of British egg producers are now fully compliant with EU legislation banning the use of battery cages, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

DEFRA told FoodManufacture.co.uk that just 1% of UK egg producers were still using the illegal cages despite the EU ban, which came into force on January 1.

A spokesman for DEFRA said: “The level of non-compliance in the UK is very low and latest figures show it to be just 1% of the total UK flock.

“By February 1 we expect that these producers will have stopped using these battery cages or we will have issued legal notices and referred the producers to the local council who will consider prosecution.”

Necessary changes

DEFRA also said it was “disappointing” that some producers had not made the switch and highlighted the £400M already spent by the industry to meet the new standards.

The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) echoed DEFRA’s concern and said it was “appalled” that some producers had still failed to make the switch.

Andrew Parker, BEIC chairman, said: “We are disgusted that these few producers are still using battery cages. It is illegal and grossly unfair on the vast majority of UK producers who have invested money in ensuring that they meet the new standards on time.

“We urge the enforcement authorities to take immediate action against any non-compliant producer.”

Despite the large compliance rate among UK producers, it is still feared that many European producers are continuing to flaunt the ban, resulting in illegal eggs being imported to and sold in the UK.

Battery cages

There are still 50M hens housed in battery cages, according to the BEIC. They produce up to 40M eggs a day in EU member states, including Italy, Spain and Poland, according to the BEIC.

Earlier this month, the BEIC took the first steps towards launching a judicial review to address the issue. It has asked DEFRA for a more comprehensive explanation of the government’s decision not to ban the imports.

The National Farmers Union (NFU) responded to the import problem by compiling a “good egg” list, which includes the names of all the firms that are fully compliant with EU legislation.

The NFU said it was “extremely concerned” about the issue and said it was pleasedthat so many UK firms were supporting the industry.

Food firms have welcomed the news and confirmed their backing for the list, which includes many UK manufacturers, including Premier Foods, Northern Foods and Associated British Foods.

The Food and Drink Federation told FoodManufacture.co.uk that all of its members were on the list and said it was pleased that the concerns had been raised.

1 comment

Food businesses should remain vigilant over eggs

Posted by Stuart Shotton, FoodChain Europe, 20 January 2012 - 12:19 GMT

It is pleasing to see that the UK egg industry is very nearly 100% compliant. But food businesses should remain vigilant following the announcement from DEFRA on December 6 that as many as 13 Member States will not be compliant, equating to some 50M hens. Although the UK has implemented enforcement provisions directly related to egg producers, there is no specific requirement preventing the food industry from using hens laid in battery cage system. However that does not mean that consumer acceptability should be disregarded.
We have been working with a number of food businesses over the past 12 months to ensure their supply chains and specifications take account of the abolishment of battery systems. The focus has been on brand protection, and our web-based supply chain management system, Minerva, a crucial part in that process.
In general, eggs and egg products from the UK are considered a lower risk. But, consideration should be given to where the egg in the egg product was laid instead of where it was manufactured. Eggs and egg products from the EU are a higher risk in the light of the delayed implementation from Member States, while non-EU eggs should be considered high risk. Ultimately brand protection isn’t just about whether or not the law has been contravened, but about protecting the reputation of your business from harm.
The use of eggs from caged systems is not illegal, but I imagine the average consumer would find the use of eggs from caged systems less than acceptable.

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