National Farmer Union Poultry Board Chairman, Charles Bourns, delivered his sector report to NFU Council this week.

He said UK egg market sales had increased 1.1 per cent with value down 0.4 per cent.

There is currently an over-supply of free range eggs and birds, he added.

The Defra minister for the environment, Jim Paice, attended a recent NFU Poultry Board meeting in London where he was told that the poultry industry could deliver on the challenge of low carbon and producing food for the future.

Mr Bourns was keen to point out that over the past three years, each poultry producer had invested an average of £34,000 into improving their businesses.

On the welfare of laying hens directive, Mr Bourns has met Mr Gavinelli and had also talked to the Polish contigent as they would be taking over the EU Presidency and be in power when the directive comes into force.

Poultry meat has seen a sales volume increase of two per cent and 6.2 per cent in value.