July 31, 2007

Egg industry launches welfare programme for egg industry 

The United Egg Producers (UEP) has launched a new web site about the egg industry's animal care program.

The programme and guidelines on the website, which can be viewed at www.uepcertified.com , was developed by a committee of animal behavior and animal science specialists. These guidelines were meant for producers to practice animal welfare based on ethics and science, the organization said.

It includes guidelines for cage space, feeding and watering space, hen house comfort levels, beak trimming, molting, transportation and other management practices.

Producers enrolled in the programme are required to pass annual audits conducted by independent third parties.

The guidelines are strict and represent egg producers' commitment to providing consumers everywhere with the highest-quality, safest and most economical eggs in the world, according to the UEP.