APPENDIX 18
Supplementary memorandum submitted by
the British Egg Industry Council (S 27)
Following our memorandum to the Agriculture
Committee of 26 October 1999, the BEIC has been in correspondence
with both the Rt Hon Nick Brown MP, Minister of Agriculture and
the Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Trade, outlining our
concerns for the future of the UK egg industry following the publication
of Council Directive 99/74/EC on the welfare of laying hens. In
particular, the effects that this will have on our industry when
the next round of WTO negotiations are concluded.
I therefore enclose the following letters:
— letter sent to Nick Brown and copied
to Richard Caborn (dated 17 January 2000) (Annex 1).
— Richard Caborn's reply (letter dated
23 February) (Annex 2).
— My reply to the Minister (letter
dated 10 March) (Annex 3).
The Minister's reply has confirmed what our
industry has always argued, even before the welfare Directive
was agreed—that our third country competitors will not accept
animal welfare measures in any new WTO agreement.
The egg industry is the first to be put in this
unique position where animal welfare legislation has been passed,
and WTO negotiations are to shortly commence. We therefore consider
it vitally important that we are able to provide oral evidence
to the Agriculture Committee during its inquiry into the implications
for UK agriculture and EU agricultural policy of trade liberalisation
and the WTO round, and would be grateful if you could assist in
any way.
Please let me know if you require any further
information.
24 March 2000
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