Brussels, 23/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - The phasing out on conventional cages by 2012 increases “the risk of increased imports of eggs flooding onto the EU market which do not meet EU rules”, warn COPA-COGECA. They say: “EU trade policy must consequently ensure that the same rules apply to imports” (as to domestically produced eggs).
“As some farmers have major difficulties in meeting the standards, member states should allocate more money to animal welfare in their rural development programmes”, say COPA, the Committee of Professional Agricultural Organisations in the EU, and COGECA, the General Confederation of Agricultural Cooperatives in the EU. They add that “many small farms could disappear altogether as a result of this new EU directive”.
The organisations call on the EU “to prolong the current promotion regime in order to inform consumers about the nutritional benefits of eggs”. (L.C./transl.rt)