Egg shortage possible for NI
The Ulster Farmer's Union (UFU) has warned that Northern Ireland may face an egg shortage as a result of the ban on battery cages. UFU Poultry Chairman John McLenaghan has argued that the expense of transitioning from battery cages to 'enriched' cages that place a greater emphasis on the animals' welfare has forced up to 15% of NI's producers out of business, leading to a drop in production. It is possible that prices will rise as a result.
Mr McLenaghan added that he felt supermarkets should be ‘prepared to pay a fair price if they want to maintain their supply base of quality eggs produced to the highest welfare standards in the world'.
A ban on battery cages came into force on January 1st 2012 as a result of European Union Council Directive 1999/74/EC. The larger 'enriched' cages mandated by the Directive give the chickens a greater cage space of 750 cm² per hen (of which 600 cm² should be 45 cm high), a littered area for scratching and pecking, a nest, a claw shortening device, and 15 cm of perch and 12 cm of food trough per hen, thus improving their living conditions, quality of life and general welfare in a meaningful sense.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
