The implications of the welfare of laying hens directive for the egg industry

Written evidence submitted by Manor Farm Eggs (EGG 13)

Our family started producing eggs in 1926 and our priority has always been the welfare of our hens. In the mid 1930’s my grandfather made his own cages, and from then on my father could see what a brilliant idea it was, mainly because the hens were disease free and so, produced much better. When battery cages were commercially produced in the late 1950’s we gradually increased the number of hens on the farm. Since then we have kept up to date with any new legislation when it has been introduced. Our priority has continued to be the welfare of the hens, as, happy, well looked after hens lay a top quality egg.

We already have some of the colony system on the farm, and would like to convert more houses, but as the legislation for the colony system requirements was only finalised and passed in 2007 we simply have not had enough time to fully convert.

In the current economic climate, with egg prices so low and feed prices so high, we are not in a position to borrow huge amounts of money in order to comply. If imports of " illegal " egg from other EU countries is allowed it is highly unlikely that we will ever be in such a position, and if imports from Third country suppliers, with much lower welfare standards is allowed, then it will be practically impossible!

All that we are asking is for some degree of leniency in the time scale for conversion to the colony system, not just for ourselves but for other poultry farmers in a similar position, who have conversion plans but have been unable to implement them. We would of course expect that there would be government checks on our progress.

At the moment we have 10 full time employees and 5 part time employees, but unfortunately they will all be joining the 2.5 million unemployed if there is no hope of us carrying on in business.

9 February 2011