Egg producers warn Scottish consumers will lose out from SNP caged chicken ban

Egg producers have warned that the consumer will lose out from SNP plans for Scotland to become the first part of the UK to ban them from keeping their chickens in cages.

The Scottish Government has unveiled a consultation on banning the use of cages to house hens involved in egg production.

Jim Fairlie, the SNP agriculture minister, said Scotland would be “leading the way in improving the welfare of animals by being the first UK nation to ban the practice”.

In the coming weeks, he said ministers would also call for evidence on the use of cages in the game bird, quail egg and meat sectors with a view to also phasing these out.

But the Egg Industry Council said it had “serious concerns” about the plans. More than 1.1 million chickens in Scotland are kept in “enriched cages”, which provide birds with more room to nest, roost and scratch than the smaller battery cages.

Caged chickens also account for around a quarter of eggs consumed in the UK and the council said they provide shoppers with “affordable, nutritious, high-quality food, and providing a vital option for a large section of the population, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis”.

Gary Ford, the trade body’s chief executive, said: “In addition to consumers, producers in Scotland who export to the rest of the UK will also be disadvantaged by the proposed changes.

“Unless Scotland is planning to close its borders it is likely that, in the event of a cage ban, retailers and food service operators will resort to importing caged eggs from outside of the UK, potentially with significantly lower welfare standards.

“There are also trade deals in place with countries that still use battery cage systems, illegal in the UK since 2012.

“With a substantial proportion of the UK’s eggs produced in Scotland, a ban could lead to job losses and a direct impact on its economy, as well as reducing the number of eggs in the market putting additional pressure on free range supply.”

The Scottish Government’s preference is for a ban on the installation of new cages from 2030, with this followed by a complete ban on keeping birds in enriched cages from 2034.

Ministers believe this option “most effectively balances improvements in bird welfare and ensures sustainability for the laying hen sector”.

‘Improve welfare of hens’

Mr Fairlie said the Scottish Government’s most recent programme for government had included commitments “to improve the welfare of laying hens to ensure their confinement does not negatively impact their normal behaviours”.

He said: “Significant progress has already been made in recognising the importance of animal welfare – both in government policies and the demand from the public in the choice they make when shopping.

“If implemented, the ban would be another example of Scotland leading the way in improving the welfare of animals by being the first UK nation to ban the practice.”

Mr Fairlie added: “We’ve seen the European Union put forward legislation to prohibit using cages for all farmed livestock, with Luxembourg and Austria already banning them and others phasing them out.”