NFU Assesses EU Competition on Eggs
UK - Reporting to the National Farmers Union (NFU) Council, poultry chairman, Charles Bourns, said several new members had joined the board and are working on new initiatives with NFU communications to encourage consumers to buy whole British birds.
22 April 2010
2 minute read
Mr Bourns added that the NFU had recently led a delegation to Brussels, which included representatives from the BEIC, to meet Commission officials and discuss the position for British egg producers after 2012.
There are fears amongst British producers that the Welfare of Laying Hens Directive will put them at a competitive disadvantage against other European producers who will not meet the deadline for conversion. This could result in millions of eggs from conventional cages deflating the market post January 1 2012.
Mr Bourns also expressed particular concern for the stand-alone conventional cage units.
He said: "They sell eggs to the local markets and banks tend to look on these types of businesses less favourably when requesting loans for conversion to enriched colony systems."
