The NFU has attempted to support farmers in the UK who adopted higher welfare ‘enriched’ cages in line with new European legislation, which came into force at the beginning of the month. When the new Welfare of Laying hens directive came into force on New Year’s Day 15 member states, including the UK, were not completely prepared.

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The union and Defra have therefore been contacting food companies and retailers; companies that have pledged to source only compliant eggs include the major supermarket chains, as well as food suppliers and processors. The union is awaiting response from a number of restaurant groups. The full list of companies is available on the NFU website.

However, the union did not comment on the 30 or so producers within the UK who did not comply with the 1st January deadline, and are still producing eggs illegally. Around 500,000 birds remain in unenriched battery cages in the UK; an NFU spokesperson said the non-compliant producers account for 1 per cent of the UK eggs and assured Defra would be issuing infraction procedures against any who were not compliant by February.

The union makes no mention of these producers, whose illegal eggs will still be entering the supply chain and undercutting compliant producers, in its ‘Good Egg’ list, looking instead to continental producers. Last week, a European Commission official said the Commisison would be investigating the UK, as with other non-compliant states.

NFU poultry board chairman Charles Bourns pointed out that the list, which has seen overwhelming support from across the food sector, showed “how many companies are backing higher welfare standards.” He also opined that, having had the 2012 deadline set for 12 years, non-compliant producers have no excuse for failing to bring in higher welfare systems, though his criticism was directed overseas.  

Mr Bourns said, “We are extremely pleased that [these companies] have decided to support the industry to ensure it does not suffer at the hands of those producers in Europe that have had more than 12 years to meet new welfare standards but have failed. Sadly, some are yet to put their head above the parapet. Whether or not this is down to slow administration, difficulties in establishing traceability or even a refusal to commit to supporting the British egg industry, it is disappointing to say the least.”

The UK industry and government have taken flak for having been vociferous in calling for restitution from non-compliant states before ensuring Britain itself was fully compliant. Peter Stevenson, chief policy adviser at animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming, expressed his disappointment at the failure of some UK producers to meet the deadline and the attitude of the industry, which continues to downplay their betrayal. He said, “After continued assurances that the UK will fully comply with the ban on these inhumane cages, we are shocked and saddened to learn that this isn’t the case. The barren battery cage ban was agreed in 1999, there is no excuse for farmers not to have been compliant when it came into force at the beginning of this year.

“While the number of hens estimated to be still stuck in these cages is lower than in countries like Spain or Italy, the number remaining in the battery cage system in the UK is by no means negligible. We urge the government to take steps to ensure that these illegal cages are replaced with compliant systems as a matter of urgency. In the meantime retailers should not sell these eggs as the sale of battery eggs is illegal. It is unfair on British farmers who have invested heavily in complying with the ban that they should have to compete with illegally produced eggs at home as well as from abroad.”

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