By Gary Ford, chief executive, British Egg Industry Council
Thankfully, without tempting fate, all is quiet on the AI front with the last case at the end of November in commercial ducks. The time not spent on AI has been spent on keeping busy elsewhere and a big part of that has been the ongoing engagement with the RSPCA over their amended laying hen welfare standards.
Industry representatives including producers, packers and trade associations have met with the RSPCA twice to express concerns and the strength of feeling. The meetings follow a joint letter from the BEIC and BFREPA to the RSPCA where we expressed ‘our significant and serious concerns regarding the new RSPCA Assured welfare standards for laying hens’.
I am pleased to say that they are listening and have responded positively with the removal of verandas from the new standard. Further meetings are planned as there is still concern about some of the other aspects of the standards such as natural daylight and stocking density. We need UK based research on the impact of natural daylight on the welfare of laying hens to show a net benefit before this standard is implemented. There is also concern around reduced stocking density and with it the ability to maintain shed temperature in the winter particularly in the north of the UK as well as the effect on income. Any way forward must be based on trust which sadly has been lost over recent times.
Aside from the RSPCA, I am keeping busy getting out and about listening to and engaging with producers. The engagement will be helped by a number of producer meetings that I am attending in the coming months from the South West to the North East of England. Given that this is a General Election year we are also busy finalising our Egg Manifesto which will be used to engage with prospective MPs so that we can, hopefully, positively shape their view of the egg sector early in their tenure. More to come on that. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you in the coming months including hopefully at Pig and Poultry in May.