By Gary Ford, chief executive, British Egg Industry Council
The BEIC had a very productive meeting with Sheila Voas, Scottish Chief Veterinary Officer and her team recently. The Scottish government decision to hold a consultation on the future of colony cages is disappointing. Colony provides an affordable entry level egg for consumers and with currently 17% of eggs produced in Scotland by this production method there is demand and it has a place. Yes, the preferred option is to phase out over ten years i.e by 2034 but we don’t know where we will be in ten years time in terms of both demand and affordability. Let the market decide is our position – if there is very little demand then fine, producers will naturally stop. By issuing a consultation with a preferred 2034 option this will prevent any innovation going into colony and with the Scots not able to ban the sale of colony egg what will be achieved?
Continuing the focus on the devolved governments, we have a meeting coming up with the food policy team at the Welsh Government to discuss the 16 week derogation for free range during an AI Housing Order. We fully expect the English and Scottish governments to remove the 16 week derogation and make it open ended to match the duration of a Housing Order. It is imperative that the Welsh government do likewise to avoid disadvantaging Welsh producers and causing confusion and complication in labelling in the event of an extended Housing Order. That is the key message that we continue to impress upon the Welsh authorities. It is to be hoped that the appointment of Huw Irranca-Davies as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs gives cause for optimism having had dealings with the him when he was Shadow Minister for Food, Farming and Rural Affairs between October 2011 and May 2015 when I was at the NFU.
On AI, it is huge relief – and a reflection of the hard work of everyone involved in the sector – that on 29 March Defra were able to self-declare freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza for Great Britain. The risk is still out there so please continue to remain vigilant and practice stringent biosecurity to protect the health and welfare of your birds. Nonetheless, let us reflect and look back on an incredibly difficult period for everyone involved, not least those that were unfortunate enough to be infected premises.
Finally, on the Lion Code of Practice I am pleased to advise that we have updated the Lion portal with a question and answer document to add clarity over some of the standards in V8 with the overall aim of supporting producers and pullet rearers. We are also in the process of getting more producers involved in various meetings and working groups of the BEIC with the organic working group and the Environment group two examples of greater producer involvement.
We will have a stand at the Pig and Poultry Fair and are keen to welcome producers so please, if you get chance – and I know that time is always at a premium at the show – please come and say hello.