The UK will not ban imports of eggs produced in battery cages after the system of production is outlawed across the EU in less than four weeks from now. In a statement yesterday, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said 'tough action' would be taken to prevent eggs produced in 'battery cages' being sold in the UK. But following the failure of the European Commission and member states to reach agreement on EU-wide conmtrol measures, his statement fell short of the sort of protection demanded by the UK egg industry.
Mr Paice said the British Government had 'thoroughly investigated' the possibility of a unilateral UK ban on all battery cage imports of egg and egg products but 'very significant' legal and financial implications and practical difficulties in enforcing it, meant it was not a realistic option.
Instead it has been working closely with the domestic egg industry, processors, food manufacturers, the food service sector and retailers to 'reach a voluntary consensus that they won't sell or use battery-farmed eggs which will help British consumers to avoid unwittingly buying them', he said.
From January 1 2012, egg producers are required to provide hens with larger and more comfortable 'enriched' cages, which include nesting and scratching areas that allow more natural behaviour. Mr Paice explained that the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) will use ultra violet light to identify batches of eggs that were not laid in these enriched cages. Any eggs which only show a pattern of wire marks will have been laid in the old battery cages, and will not be allowed to be sold as class A (whole) eggs. But they will be allowed to be sold into the processing, albeit at a lower price. This will apply to UK-produced eggs and shell egg imports, which account for about 9 per cent of eggs consumed in the UK.
Once suspected non-compliant imported shell eggs are indentified, the AHVLA will contact the relevant authority in the originating Member State and ask for confirmation of the system of production. If they are found to be from an illegal system, they would be sent for processing if UK processors them. If the eggs were found to be from compliant system, the eggs would be released.
Mr Paice admitted, however, that because of a loophole in the egg marketing regulations, the UK cannot prohibit the marketing or use of imported battery cage eggs sent for processing.
Paice said it was 'unacceptable' that after the ban on battery cages comes into effect, around 50 million hens in 13 member states across Europe would still be produced in battery cages after January 1, when the UK industry has spent £400 million complying. "We're taking action to protect UK consumers and the egg industry by hitting producers who flout the law where it hurts – in their pockets," he said.
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