October 26, 2023

 

Rise in imported low-welfare eggs to the UK raises quality concerns

 
 


The United Kingdom is witnessing an influx of low-welfare eggs from abroad, with data revealing a significant increase in egg imports from countries like Poland and Italy, The Guardian reported.

 

Experts warn that the quality of these products may be lower, and there are concerns that post-Brexit trade deals could introduce low-welfare eggs from caged hens into the UK market.

 

Official data shows that between 2021 and August 2023, the number of eggs imported from Poland surged by over 2,000%, from 46 consignments to 1,095. The number of eggs imported from Italy also increased by nearly 300% between 2022 and 2023, rising from 72 consignments to 279, according to figures from the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

 

The total number of egg consignments imported increased from 422 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022, with 2,536 recorded in the first eight months of 2023. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of eggs from these countries. A recent report linked a major salmonella outbreak earlier this year to Polish eggs.

 

Minette Batters, president of the UK National Farmers' Union, expressed astonishment at the import figures for the first eight months of 2023. She questioned why low-welfare eggs, produced according to standards that would be illegal in the UK, are being imported. Batters also raised concerns about the government's oversight of food imports, given the ongoing delays in the border target operating model.

 

Gary Ford, Deputy Chief Executive of the British Egg Industry Council, shared Batters' concerns, describing the growth in imports as "very disappointing." He also highlighted the impact on consumers, citing the salmonella outbreak linked to Polish eggs.

 

The surge in imports has occurred alongside egg shortages, which began in late 2022 as egg farmers reduced production due to rising costs driven by food and energy price increases. Official data shows that UK egg production declined by 8% in 2022 and 10% in 2023.

 

Despite farmers' efforts to address the issue, the government's response has been unsympathetic. UK Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey faced backlash earlier this year when she suggested there was no market failure in poultry despite empty shop shelves.

 

Retailers have sought eggs from other European countries, including Latvia and Hungary, as data indicates.

 

Experts raise concerns about the quality of imported eggs, particularly those from Poland, where the majority of hens are kept in cages, with minimal space per bird. Worries have been voiced that post-Brexit trade deals might introduce battery eggs to the UK market.

 

As part of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), ministers are expected to approve imports of produce, including eggs, from countries like Mexico.

 

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)'s head of Public Affairs, David Bowles, recalled the UK's 1999 agreement to ban caged eggs, and the public's support for this ban. Bowles expressed concern that a rise in low-welfare egg imports might occur without safeguards on domestic welfare standards in trade deals.

 

The RSPCA called on the government to ensure that future trade agreements, including with the EU, align with UK standards. It urged that the rise in imports from Poland demonstrates vulnerability to imported caged eggs, which could undermine domestic standards and the livelihoods of UK egg producers.

 

A spokesperson for the UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs emphasised the open market nature of the UK egg industry, with value and trade determined by various supply chain actors. They pledged to uphold high animal welfare standards in trade negotiations and to maintain these standards in future free trade agreements.

 

-      The Guardian

Video >

Follow Us

FacebookTwitterLinkedIn