Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. June 2025
    2. 2025 Innovation supplement
    3. May 2025
    4. April 2025
    5. March 2025
    6. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    7. February 2025
    8. January 2025
    9. December 2024
    10. November 2024
    11. October 2024
    12. September 2024
    13. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    14. August 2024
    15. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    16. July 2024
    17. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    18. June 2024
    19. 2024 Innovation supplement
    20. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    21. May 2024
    22. April 2024
    23. March 2024
    24. February 2024
    25. January 2024
    26. December 2023
    27. November 2023
    28. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    29. October 2023
    30. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    31. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – June 2025 issue

    By Chloe RyanJune 9, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – June 2025 issue

    June 9, 2025

    Poultry Business – 2025 Innovation supplement

    June 9, 2025

    Poultry Business – May 2025 issue

    May 15, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
Business & Politics

Comment: Supermarkets importing eggs is a huge disappointment

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanDecember 5, 20223 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

By Mark Williams, chief executive, British Egg Industry Council

The British egg industry is experiencing an incredibly difficult time. First, we had Brexit followed by Covid-19 and successive lockdowns, and now the critical factor of significantly increased cost pressure. The soaring costs are well documented, but include feed, energy, fuel and labour in particular. This has led to producers having no choice but to stop production rather than facing a financial loss on every egg produced. The losses due to Avian Influenza have only served to compound the situation.

Unfortunately, the media chose to totally blame AI for empty shelves, however, we corrected this in our briefings to media; that the huge cost increases must be recognised and addressed by improved returns.

While we expect supply to return to normal once the cost pressures ease, we don’t know when this will be, and egg packers and producers continue to lose money.

We know that eggs are one of the most nutritious sustainable foods on the shopping list which play a crucial role in everyday meals for all the family. This means that we must do all we can to ensure that there enough British eggs for all to enjoy without having to compromise.

This brings me to imports; it is incredibly disappointing to see foreign eggs on some shelves. All our research shows that British consumers want and expect eggs to be home produced, offering them the highest possible standards. If retailers do choose to sell foreign eggs they must be clearly marked as such so that consumers can see the country of origin and are aware, that unlike British Lion eggs, they are not Food Standards Agency approved to be eaten runny by all vulnerable groups.

On the issue of trade, the BEIC continues to engage with the UK Government on behalf of the egg sector to ensure our industry is not undermined by imports of eggs and egg products produced to lower standards. As well making representations to Defra and the Department for International Trade, the BEIC has responded to many inquiries run by the parliamentary International Trade Select Committee. We recently reiterated our position on trade with India, and the CPTPP (Pacific Rim countries) trading bloc, particularly the fact that these countries still use conventional cage production systems.

On Avian Influenza the H5N1 highly pathogenic strain has been detected in birds all over the world, now even in South America. Vaccination must be our way of controlling AI, however, as I pointed out in my previous column, there are significant barriers to overcome. To reiterate, we need effective vaccines (more than one!), which can be easily administered, with a proper cost-effective surveillance programme in place, which will serve to avoid trade barriers.

The amended Lion Code biosecurity standards are now bedded in and are aimed at strengthening a site’s defences against AI. However, we remain reliant on everyone in the industry, at every level, playing their part in ensuring that there are no holes in the defences. Biosecurity failings remain the greatest threat to an individual site.

Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticleComment: Is food security at last moving up the agenda?
Next Article Gafoor Pure Halal increases turnover 16.7% with new contract wins
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

Business & Politics

Comment: World events reinforce the need for a strong farming industry here

June 19, 20252 Mins Read
Business & Politics

Ranjit Boparan buys out Hook2Sisters

June 16, 20252 Mins Read
Business & Politics

Poultry sector urged to invest in training in automation and AI

June 16, 20251 Min Read
Latest News

What if AI could run your farm better than you?

June 19, 2025

Comment: World events reinforce the need for a strong farming industry here

June 19, 2025

Avian flu confirmed in backyard flock

June 18, 2025
Sponsored Content

Navigating Sustainability in Egg Production: Practical Steps for Producers

June 1, 2025

Maintain stable and continuous coccidiosis control amidst stocking density reductions

November 1, 2024
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.