Battery Hens Campaign: Background Information Egg Labelling and the Consumer Dimension
In the EU, the Egg Marketing Regulations (see Commission Regulation 93/1274/EEC) allow eggs to be labelled according to given systems of production, providing specified conditions are met. The systems covered are:
Furthermore, not only are battery eggs not labelled as such, they are even frequently described by terms which denote anything but their system of production (such as 'farm fresh', 'country fresh') and packaged in containers bearing misleading pictures (of country farmyards with rolling meadows)! Many consumers are also unclear about the reality of battery cage production and alternative systems. They have not seen the respective egg production systems, and are not familiar with the standards governing description and labelling. When speaking to consumers in supermarkets, it becomes clear that even concerned consumers are confused. Some, for example, buy barn eggs believing these to be from the traditional small barn systems they were familiar with many years ago - whereas in practice they could be from large, cramped commercial systems bearing no relation to consumer perceptions. There can also be a considerable variation between egg production systems covered by the same labelling term. It is well known that some large free-range units are less than satisfactory - and that in some many hens do not, in practice, have access to outdoors (due to the size of system, housing design, threat from other hens etc.). Whereas in others, conditions are optimised - for example, by using small mobile houses of a good design, coupled with good management practices. There have also been attempts to introduce other labelling schemes impacting upon animal welfare, such as welfare labelling and organic standards. Organic schemes include certain specified welfare criteria, and will be controlled at EU level. Welfare labelling schemes are often introduced by welfare societies in an attempt to improve welfare standards through a voluntary marketing scheme. There appears to be no moves to control welfare labelling schemes at EU level at present. With the introduction of varying standards and labelling schemes (sometimes within one country, and well as from country-to-country) the scope for consumer confusion increases. We believe that there should be clear - and compulsory - labelling standards for eggs, based on defined production systems with stated welfare standards. Caged eggs should be labelled as such, and all misleading labelling and packaging practises outlawed. There should also be a strong consumer awareness campaign - to educate consumers so they are able to exercise informed purchasing choice. This should be a concerted campaign, involving government, producer organisations, retailers and welfare societies. It is likely that more consumers would be willing to pay a premium for eggs from alternative systems of they were fully aware of the welfare problems for hens in battery cages, and the comparative advantages of other systems (and indeed could accurately identify eggs from each system). This view is backed up by the experience of Switzerland. During the campaign to ban battery cages leading up to passing of the Swiss legislation (see Switzerland above) Swiss consumers became increasingly aware of the realities of different egg production systems, and not only was the Swiss legislation adopted in a nation-wide referendum in 1978, but consumers have continued to demand even more welfare refinements since. (For example, at least 20% floor space covered with litter, smaller flock sizes (500 to 2000 birds), daylight, end of beak trimming, etc.).
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