130. Many consumers find battery cages less acceptable than other systems, yet most are not sufficiently concerned to purchase eggs produced more expensively in non-cage systems. This may also be partly because current labelling is not always clear. For example, many people believe that "fresh" eggs are from hens kept in extensive conditions. We consider, therefore, that it is important that consumers are provided with clear information about the system of production to enable them to make informed choices. If there was a ground-swell of consistent public demand for change, then both the producers and the retailers might move rapidly towards alternatives to the conventional cage system but presently this movement is relatively slow.
131. The need for fair competition throughout the EU and with third countries is a major concern. Many producers have stated that they would be willing to introduce phased changes to systems provided these standards also applied to their competitors in other countries and that the rules were fully enforced. We believe that there is potential for welfare improvements to existing systems although these are likely to increase both production and capital investment costs . This increased cost could be covered if retailers paid the producers more for the eggs. A small increase in price on the supermarket shelf might not be unwelcome to many consumers if animal welfare could be demonstrated to be improved as a consequence. Furthermore, this could indicate a commitment to improved hen welfare by both the producers and the retailers. However, irrespective of any moral argument, the majority of consumers at present seem to prefer the cheaper cage produced eggs to the more expensive free range ones.
132. The EC Egg Marketing Regulations permit shell eggs to be labelled according to their system of production as: free range eggs, semi-intensive eggs, deep litter eggs, perchery (barn) eggs and eggs from caged hens. These are optional terms but if eggs are sold under any of the terms mentioned then they must be produced in systems which meet criteria laid down in the Egg Marketing Regulations. The current practice of many, although not all, retailers is to label eggs produced from non-cage systems with Special Marketing Terms ("Free Range", "Deep Litter" and "Perchery (Barn) Eggs") but not eggs from caged hens.
133. We recommend that it should be compulsory for eggs to be labelled according to their system of production.
134. A problem which has been drawn to our attention is that free range and perchery (barn) eggs are often not labelled as such and are sold as ordinary eggs because they are of small size or because of temporary drops in demand for free range or perchery (barn) eggs. If battery cage eggs are to be compulsorily labelled as eggs from caged systems, then this would prevent free range or perchery (barn) eggs from being sold in pack marked eggs from caged systems. This would impose a significant financial penalty upon these producers which might, in turn, force more producers back to cage production.
135. We recommend that packs of mixed eggs should be labelled as "may contain eggs from hens in any production system". This description should only be used on mixed packs.