Farmers Fear Falling Fowl Of Battery Clampdown

At least 100 million chickens will be kept in illegal conditions across Europe when new animal welfare regulations come into force next year, according to MPs.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee says around a third of eggs produced in Europe will be laid in battery cages even after they are banned in January 2012.

British farmers are estimated to have spent £400m replacing cramped battery cages for 20 million hens with larger "enhanced" cages that provide more room, with perches and a nesting area.

Eggs from caged birds make up half of the UK's egg production, and sell for as little as 69p for six.

The 45% of UK eggs that come from free range flocks cost around £1.50 for six.

The committee's chair, Conservative MP Anne McIntosh , said: "The European Commission has just not woken up to the impact that non-compliance with this legislation will have on egg producers in the UK and across Europe.

"UK producers will be left at a competitive disadvantage if cheaper, illegal and non-compliant shell eggs and egg products can be imported to the UK from other European countries."

Chris Kirkwood showed Sky News around his new enhanced cages and improved egg handling lines at Carr Farm near Withernsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Walking through one of his buildings with its tiers of cages he was keen to point out that the hens are peaceful and healthy-looking, without the missing feathers that many people expect.

"Because they're kept in groups of 60 birds, each bird recognising her sister, then there's no feather pecking whatsoever," he said.

"I'm proud that these are my birds and hand on heart I can say that this is the most welfare-friendly way of keeping birds."

He estimates he has invested more than £3m on the new facilities in the past eight years.

Ms McIntosh told Sky News her committee is calling on the UK Government to press for a trade ban within the EC on the export from member states of eggs and egg products which do not comply with the new rules.

It also wants the European Commission to take action against countries where egg producers do not comply with the directive once it comes into force.

The British Retail Consortium , whose members include the major supermarket chains and food outlets, has guaranteed that its companies will not sell lower welfare eggs on their shelves or use them in their products from January 2012.