UK politicians stood shoulder to shoulder this week in repelling a move by some European Union states wanting to postpone the banning of battery egg production
Back in 1999, the European Commission announced the use of battery cages for laying hens would be banned from January 1, 2012. At that time member states were advised that only enriched cages – which include a perch, scratching area and nest box – would be permitted after that date.
Over the intervening decade, UK producers invested heavily in order to meet the new standards but some European countries have been less assiduous in this and have been pressurising their politicians to table an extension to next January's deadline.
Yesterday in Brussels, Richard Lochhead, Scotland's cabinet secretary for rural affairs, demanded that a ban be imposed on eggs produced from chickens kept in inferior conditions so that the Scottish industry could be protected from cheap imports. "The Scottish egg industry has invested considerable sums converting their systems to ensure we meet the strictest possible welfare standards.
"Some member states are claiming that, despite having had more than a decade to comply, they will not be able to make the changes needed in time. If these states are granted an extension at the 11th hour it could place our industry at a serious competitive disadvantage.
"A ban on exports from non-compliant member states would be essential."
Lochhead was supported in this call by UK Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman, who said it would be enormously unfair to all those egg producers in the UK who had made significant investments in their premises.
The UK views were supported by agricultural ministers from Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands and the proposed extension to the deadline was defeated.
Reacting to the decision NFU Scotland communications director Bob Carruth said he welcomed the intervention of the politicians in defending the interests of Scottish egg producers.
Carruth claimed that some member states had been "dragging their heels" on the issue with an estimated 30 per cent of all EU egg production believed to come from old battery cages.
"As a priority, the Commission must now look to ensure that the businesses of those who have converted to the new requirements will not be undermined by a trade in eggs from those farms that continue to use conventional cages beyond the deadline.," he said.
"If illegal eggs continue to be produced in Europe in 2012, the Commission must give consideration as to how it introduces an intra-community ban that prevents such eggs undermining the internal market for legally produced eggs from those member states that have enforced the legislation."
Source: BUSINESS.scotsman.com
