As one Defra agency appears to be finally learning the painful lessons of IT rollouts gone wrong, another seems to have walked into the same trap. RSPCA relaxes rules to cater for free-range egg demand
THE RSPCA is relaxing its rules on stocking densities for free range hens because soaring demand by consumers means farmers are running out of space.
The maximum number of hens allowed outdoors under the RSPCA Freedom Food assurance scheme will rise from the current 1,000 birds per hectare to 2,000 over the life of the flock.
The change will put the scheme in line with the Lion Code, which from January 2009 changed to permit a stocking density of 2,000 hens/ha.
The EU legal maximum stocking density is 2,500 birds per hectare.
There will be conditions attached, however. Freedom Food farmers wishing to increase outdoor stocking density will be required to provide ‘increased enrichment and more provision of natural cover’ outdoors for the hens. The number of hens allowed indoors will not change.
The RSPCA has been under pressure from farmers to make the change in response to the soaring demand for free range eggs in recent years. It admitted this surge in popularity has led to fears that future demand will not be fully met by UK producers, resulting in a influx of lower standard imports.
“If there is a shortfall in British eggs, then experience indicates that overseas produced eggs (which are often produced under lower welfare standards) would be imported to fill the gap,” Alice Clark, a senior scientific officer for RSPCA said.
“As the vast majority of free range laying hen units in the UK are Freedom Food approved, and therefore inspected to RSPCA standards, it was vital that the RSPCA worked towards finding a solution to this situation that was based on both sound science and professional expertise.
“This decision was not taken lightly and we look forward to continuing to work positively with the industry to see this improve the number, and conditions, of laying hens reared to the RSPCA’s free-range standards.”
She said research had shown e quality of the range that was ‘extremely important’ to hen welfare.
The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) and the NFU welcomed this decision. “We have been working with the RSPCA to reach an outcome, and we are pleased that this move means the industry will be able to meet the increased demand for British free-range eggs,” said Mark Williams, BEIC chief executive.
NFU chief poultry adviser Rob Newbery said: “The expanding market place for free-range eggs is a wonderful success story of UK agriculture. If the industry does not expand now we risk losing our market to imports, of potentially eggs produced to lower standards in the future.”
The RSPCA will release more details on the changes for members by the end of October 2009, from when the changes will be in effect.
Extra requirements will include further provisions, such as:
- 5 per cent of the total range area provided with natural cover.
- Dedicated areas for behaviours such as perching and dustbathing
- Development of a range management plan.
- Further attention to the area immediately outside popholes.
Readers' comments (2)
Alaistaire Brice | 1 October 2009 1:51 pm
Good in the short-term market as there is a shortage, but how long until supply outstrips demand leading to a glut of FR eggs and subsequent price reductions until the premium vanishes! This is going to be made increasingly worse if the recession continues.
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Anonymous | 27 October 2010 8:11 pm
are all freerange eggs stamped as freerange
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