RSPCA call for ban on ‘illegal’ eggs
Friday, 2 September 2011 12:15 PM
The RSPCA today (FRI) warned that UK shoppers could be duped into buying illegal eggs that do not meet minimum welfare standards unless the European Commission takes action.
Conventional barren battery cages will be banned under EU legislation from January 1 2012. Producers have had 13 years to replace these with free range, barn systems or so-called enriched battery cages.
A report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee has revealed that while UK producers are expected to be ready to meet the new minimum welfare standards, around a third of egg production across the rest of Europe will be from illegal barren battery cages.
The RSPCA today welcomed the report and called for the European Commission and UK government to ban eggs from non-compliant producers ensuring illegal eggs do not find their way onto the shelves in the UK next year.
Alice Clark, senior scientific officer at the RSPCA, said: “We are very concerned that UK shoppers could unwittingly buy illegal eggs, or products with eggs in, that do not even meet minimum legal welfare standards as upheld in the UK.
“It is absolutely crucial that the European Commission introduces a European ban on illegal eggs being sold outside the country where they are produced.
“It is also vital that a rigorous inspection process is introduced to check the systems egg producers have in place and ensure there are meaningful penalties for non-compliance to put pressure on those producers to stop using illegal barren battery cages as quickly as possible.
“Retailers need to play their part in ensuring that they check their audit systems to ensure they don’t put any products containing illegal eggs on their shelves.”
The RSPCA believes that enriched cages still restrict hens’ full movements and natural behaviour and would like to see all hens kept in higher welfare systems. So far this year, more than half of all eggs produced in the UK (52 per cent) come from barn and free range systems.
We are encouraged that major retailers such as Asda, Co-op, M&S and Waitrose are aware of the issue (see notes to editors).
All British farmers using cage systems are expected to comply with The Welfare of Laying Hens Directive and they risk being undercut by European egg producers using the illegal battery cages.
The RSPCA supports many of the recommendations made by EFRA report including:
— An intra-EU ban on the trade of illegal eggs to protect British egg producers and consumers
— Better data collection about egg production systems by the EC member states and a strict enforcement system
— No labelling scheme for illegal eggs
— Retailers and food manufacturers to ensure they only sell or use legal eggs
— No time extension for non-compliant egg producers from EU member states.
In additional the RSPCA is calling for the Government buying standards to make it mandatory only to buy eggs from non-cage systems.
To find out more about the RSPCA’s work on promoting the welfare of laying hens log on to http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/farm/poultry/layinghens
Ends
Notes to editors:
— The RSPCA is opposed to any cage system of producing eggs. So-called enriched cages must allow at least 600cm2 usable space per bird compared to 550cm2 in conventional cages – the additional space is about the size of a beer mat. Enriched battery cages must contain a scratching area, nest box and perch. In reality these limited provisions are inadequate. Shoppers are encouraged to buy eggs, and products containing eggs, from alternative systems such as barn or free range, preferably ones with the Freedom Food logo which means they have come from farms assessed to the RSPCA's strict welfare standards.
— Asda sells only British shelled eggs and is working with suppliers to implement an “appropriate auditing and traceability regime to ensure all liquid egg in its products comes from enriched cages”.
— Co-op only sells free range and organic eggs in store and use free-range eggs in all their own brand products. Sean Toal, commercial director of food, said: “We fully support the RSPCA and Efra’s recommendations and can reassure our customers that all our eggs and egg ingredients in our own-brand products are free range as a minimum.”
— M&S use only free range eggs in their food. Mark Ranson, M&S agricultural manager, said: “We continue to work with our farmers across the UK to make sure that the quality of our eggs and the welfare standards of our hens is second to one.”
— Waitrose sells only British, free range shell eggs and eggs used in own label chilled food are free range. A spokesman said: “Waitrose only works with farmers we know and trust and many have been working with us for generations.”
For RSPCA media inquiries contact Catherine Peerless on 0300 1230005 or email cpeerless@rspca.org.uk
For Efra media inquiries contact Hannah Pearce on 0207 2198430 or email pearcehm@parliament.uk
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