Battery hen eggs will no longer be imported from 2012 – minister

Specialist farmers have welcomed new rules for egg producers announced by Farm Minister Jim Paice.

Speaking at the Egg and Poultry Industry Conference, held in Warwickshire, Mr Paice confirmed Government support for egg producers who are investing in enriched colony systems on laying hen farms.

Delegates were told he had written to the European Commission seeking a ban on eggs from conventional cages being traded between member states after January 1, 2012.

He made it clear that consumers deserved to see only eggs from hens kept in better welfare cages on supermarket shelves once the EU-wide 2012 "battery" cage ban comes in.

He said: "The UK industry has worked hard to convert out of battery cages ahead of the European deadline – so it wouldn't be fair to them to have to compete with eggs from other European countries that haven't met the deadline.

"I've told the Commission we shan't want to see any eggs imported from European countries that haven't complied with the conventional cage ban after 2012."

A maximum legal stocking density for chickens will be established through a regulation laid today.

Mr Paice continued: "For the first time there will be a legal maximum stocking density for meat chickens, which will provide a good baseline for our already high standards of poultry welfare – and much of the industry already meets many of the new requirements."

The regulation is subject to debate in Parliament before it can come into force.

Speaking at the event, NFU poultry board chairman Charles Bourns said: "We welcome the Minister's pledge and efforts to protect the investment of egg producers in the UK who are converting to enriched colony units, in line with EU legislation on January 1 2012.

"It is clear that fair trade in the single market will be complicated by the estimated 100 million-plus birds that could still be reared in conventional cages in other EU member states after the ban comes into effect. So we welcome the Minister's efforts on this issue and urge Commission officials to address this potential disparity as soon as possible."

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