Cheap egg imports could damage UK industry, MP warns

His remarks came after a long-awaited response from Defra Minister of State Dame Angela Eagle to a letter sent 11 weeks ago following concerns expressed by poultry farmers in his constituency to the Consultation on Cage Reform.

“The Minister has largely ducked the issue I raised,” Mr Allister said. “That the government has failed to give any credible undertaking to stop tariff-free imports of eggs produced to a lower standard is regrettable.”

In his letter, Mr Allister stated that the proposal to phase out enriched colony cages must be met with equivalent import controls – otherwise the viability of British egg production is at serious risk.

“UK producers have already invested around £400m to meet some of the highest welfare standards in the world, following the 2012 ban on conventional cages,” he wrote. “These investments were made in line with Government policy and are still far from recouped. A five‑year transition – far shorter than the EU’s proposed ten‑year-plus timeline – would make these assets prematurely obsolete.”

However, he emphasised that the free flow of cheap eggs into the UK could have the calamitous effect of replacing British products.

“The greater threat is that the UK continues to allow tariff‑free imports of eggs and egg products produced to standards that would be illegal here, including from conventional battery cages still widely used outside the EU,” he continued.

“Imports from Ukraine produced in such systems are already entering the UK. If domestic caged production is banned while imports remain unrestricted, lower‑welfare, lower‑cost eggs will simply replace British production.

“This would undermine UK farmers, collapse domestic egg processing capacity and leave no outlet for Class B and surplus eggs – raising costs across all systems, including free‑range and organic. It would also mislead consumers by allowing lower‑welfare eggs into thousands of processed foods where origin is unclear.

“If the Government intends to legislate for a ban on enriched cages, it must simultaneously require that all imported eggs and egg products meet the same welfare standards. Without this, the policy will offshore production, damage British farming, and fail to deliver genuine welfare gains.”

Responding to Mr Allister’s concerns, the Defra Minister of State maintained that the government would “always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage”.

“In preparation for the consultation, the government carried out an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on the competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers and, as part of the consultation, sought views on that assessment,” Dame Angela wrote.

“The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and levels of imports and exports. The government is now analysing the responses and will take into account your constituents feedback in preparing to publish a response.

“The government shares the public’s high regard for our high welfare standards at home and, while rightly exploring areas where these standards can be further enhanced, recognises the potential for increased divergence between domestic standards and those of significant global exporters.

“As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and, where necessary, will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

“The government recognises that animal welfare is a global issue and will continue to work internationally to champion high standards of animal welfare and promote best practice.”