Brussels, 16/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - Implementation of the directive on the protection of laying hens, which brought in a ban on battery cages from 1 January 2012, has led to lower production and a consequent surge in egg prices with the approach of Easter, a period when the demand, particularly from the food industry, is high. “The drop-off in supply and the increase in demand has caused a significant increase in egg prices”, the Commission has confirmed.
Within the EU27, the price of eggs for industry reached €2,000 per 100kg in the week of 5 March, more than twice the usual cost at that time. Prices of eggs for processing are 10-20% higher than eggs for consumption, which cost €173 per 100kg, when, usually the opposite is the case.
“In the light of our past experience (in Germany, where cages for laying hens were banned in 2009, it took several months for market balance to be restored), we are in a transitional period and by the end of April prices will probably begin going down”, a source close to Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos said. It is, then, a “temporary” problem. In the meantime, eggs are being imported from the United States, Mexico and Turkey. (LC/transl.rt)