40 million eggs a day in Europe produced by battery hens despite ban
– Upto 100 million hens are estimated to be unlawfully housed across Europe
Despite a ban introduced across the European Union from 1 January 2012 which prohibits the keeping of egg-laying hens in battery hens, over 40 million eggs a day in the European Union will have been hatched in prohibited conditions.
Richard Ashworth MEP, Conservative Agriculture spokesman in the European Parliament said:
“I have been warning the European Commission that offending member states of the European Union have no imperative to comply with the law whatsoever and potentially exposing UK egg producers to grossly unfair competition.”
“I am keen to protect UK egg producers who are 100% compliant with the new law against grossly unfair competition in other EU member states who will be producing cheaper eggs in conditions that are now illegal”, said Richard Ashworth Conservative
Agriculture spokesman in the European Parliament.,
The 1999 EU laying hens Directive gave EU member states twelve years to switch standard battery cages to “enriched” cages, which are larger and contain litter, perches and a scratching post. As many as one hundred million hens are estimated to be unlawfully housed in the new year, producing in excess of forty million eggs a day.
But while 100% per cent of all British egg producers will be compliant with the new EU-wide law introduced on 1 January 2012 many European countries will continue to keep battery hens.
“I am particularly concerned that Spain and Poland who are amongst Europe’s largest egg producers will not be ready to scrap battery cages, despite having over 12 years to prepare for the new law”.
“The lack of teeth shown by the Commission in ensuring compliance, sets a dangerous precedent for the future. Farmers in many member states will now have learnt that they can flout new European legislation when it suits them with no fear of penalty and with the tacit support of their government”.
1. Richard Ashworth is Conservative spokesman on Agriculture and represents the South East of England in Brussels
2. Richard has been the chairman of NFU Corporate, the organisation that represents Britain’s farmer controlled agri-business and co-operatives in London and Brussels. He has also been a member of the Minister of Agriculture’s food chain advisory committee.
3. Richard worked extensively in Canada and New Zealand before establishing a farming business in Sussex. He developed his own business processing and retailing dairy products, and subsequently became a founder director and was for some years the chairman of United Milk Plc.