Trans-Pacific Trade Deal could allow battery eggs to reach UK supermarket shelves

As many of you will no doubt be aware, a new trade deal has been struck which could allow eggs from hens kept in battery cages to be sold in UK supermarkets once again.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a tariff-free trade agreement between the UK and 11 other countries which permits the importation of eggs from conventional cage systems found outside the UK.

Animal welfare charities such as the RSPCA and veterinary bodies such as the British Veterinary Association and British Veterinary Poultry Association have also expressed their concerns over the detrimental impact to animal welfare and our commitment to protect these standards.

The deal poses the risk that UK consumers will be given the option of buying eggs produced to much lower welfare standards; standards that were raised in the EU with the ban on battery cages in 2012. The terms of the deal will see import tariffs phased out over ten years, allowing lower welfare standard products to be imported offering wholesale price reductions to retailers and the leisure sector.

A further issue highlighted by the trade deal is the need for more informative labelling, something the BHWT has always campaigned for so that consumers can make an informed choice.

However, the government has set this aside for future attention despite more than ever the consumer needing clear information on welfare practices to avoid supporting standards we do not permit in the UK. in the world. This new agreement entirely undermines the hard work and investment that farmers have made into these welfare standards and the trade deal is a huge blow for the industry.

More than ever we are passionate in our vision to see UK consumers acting with their shopping baskets to support our British free-range farmers and ask you, as supporters, to encourage the same for the sake of commercial laying hens everywhere.

The British Hen Welfare Trust has been working alongside the British egg industry for many years and promotes the fact that welfare standards in the UK are amongst the highest

Imports and global economy are vital components to trade decisions and effect our day-to-day lives in many ways; however, compromising the animal welfare standards we have achieved in the UK would most certainly be a huge backwards step.

As always, we will keep you updated on any news on this topic.