The U.K. government has made an official representation to the European Commission to prevent the export of eggs from other European Union countries to the U.K. that do not comply with EU housing standards.
The EU has banned conventional cages, effective 2012, although enriched cages, free range and organic systems are approved.
Some countries, including Poland, have requested waivers from the rule. “The U.K. industry has worked hard to convert out of battery cages ahead of the European deadline, so it wouldn’t be fair for them to have to compete with eggs from other European countries that haven’t met the deadline,” said Jim Paice, minister of the Department for Environment, Food and Rurual Affairs.
The U.K. government will also introduce a ban on beak trimming with the exception of infrared treatment on day-old chicks.
