The UK government has assessed how its proposed ban on keeping layers in cages will impact the “competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers”.
That’s according to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Minister of State, Dame Angela Eagle.
She made the comments in response to a letter from Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MP, Jim Allister, to highlight the possible impact of “cheap egg imports” heading for the UK.
The TUV MP wrote the letter after poultry farmers in his constituency of North Antrim had raised concerns about the proposed ban.
Responding to Allister’s concerns, the Defra Minister of State maintained that the government would “always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage”.
She added: “In preparation for the consultation, the government carried out an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on the competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers and, as part of the consultation, sought views on that assessment.
“The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and levels of imports and exports.”
Dame Eagle said the government is “analysing the responses” and will take into account the feedback from Allister’s constituents feedback in preparing a response.
“The government shares the public’s high regard for our high welfare standards at home and, while rightly exploring areas where these standards can be further enhanced, recognises the potential for increased divergence between domestic standards and those of significant global exporters.
“As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and, where necessary, will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.
“The government recognises that animal welfare is a global issue and will continue to work internationally to champion high standards of animal welfare and promote best practice,” the Defra Minister of State said.
Egg imports
According to the North Antrim politician, Westminster’s “failure” to pledge to stop tariff-free imports of sub-standard eggs could have devastating effects on UK producers
His remarks came after a response was received from Defra Minister of State, Dame Angela Eagle, to a letter sent 11 weeks ago.
This followed concerns expressed by poultry farmers Allister’s constituency to the Consultation on Cage Reform.
He said: “The minister has largely ducked the issue I raised.
“That the government has failed to give any credible undertaking to stop tariff-free imports of eggs produced to a lower standard is regrettable.”
In his letter, which he said was sent 11 weeks ago, Allister stated that the proposal to phase out enriched colony cages must be met with equivalent import controls; otherwise the viability of British egg production is at risk.
He added: “UK producers have already invested around £400m to meet some of the highest welfare standards in the world, following the 2012 ban on conventional cages.
“These investments were made in line with government policy and are still far from recouped.
“A five‑year transition, far shorter than the EU’s proposed ten‑year-plus timeline, would make these assets prematurely obsolete.”
Allister went on to emphasise that the free flow of cheap eggs into the UK could end up replacing British products.
In his opinion, the greater threat is that Westminster continues to allow tariff‑free imports of eggs and egg products produced to standards that would be illegal in the UK, including from conventional battery cages still widely used outside the EU.