BEIC Statement on Commission Report on Banning of Conventional Cages

The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has welcomed the publication of the European Commission’s report to the European Parliament and Council on the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive, but has expressed concern over the length of time it has taken to be published – more than three years late.

Mark Williams, BEIC Chief Executive, said: “The ban on conventional cages in 2012 is not news. However, while the UK industry is working towards the ban and we are already ahead of most other European countries in moving into alternative production systems, the long delay in publishing this report has meant that egg producers now have considerably less time to fully implement the Directive.

“With 78% of the EU-25 laying flock – around 250 million hens - still in conventional cages, we do not believe there is enough time left to make the changes required across Europe within this timescale, without major distortion to the egg market, which in an unsupported industry will be disastrous.

“With the cost of the changes across the EU estimated at more than 4 billion Euros, we are highly critical of the Commission in the extensive delay to this report.” 

The BEIC believes that the report over-estimates the demand for non-caged eggs and believes that some consumers, as well as retail and manufacturing customers, will still seek the cheapest possible eggs.  It is concerned that further processed egg products, from hens kept in lower welfare conditions in countries outside the EU – some countries have no animal welfare legislation at all - will still be on sale in the UK after the ban is implemented.  It is calling for mandatory labelling of egg products, and for the UK Government to support the UK egg industry’s demand for eggs to be given sensitive product status in WTO negotiations.