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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact upon (a) egg producers, (b) small markets and (c) consumers of her proposed requirement for ungraded eggs to be marked. [184197] Alun Michael: Defra has received over 3,000 inquiries from small-scale egg producers on the Registration of Laying Flocks Order and the Egg Marketing Regulations. All producers must register with departments in order to obtain an identifying code. Currently small producers with less than 350 birds are exempt from this requirement, provided that the eggs are ungraded and sold direct to the final consumer. Because of enforcement difficulties in other member states, it was agreed in November 2003 that part of the derogation from marking for ungraded eggs be removed. From 1 July 2005 farmers selling eggs from their own farms at local public markets will no longer be exempt from the requirement to mark their eggs, irrespective of the number of laying hens kept A Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment was prepared on this in November 2003. The cost for small producers to purchase the necessary equipment is low. A hand stamp can be bought for around £30. The time required to register as a producer and then to stamp eggs is unlikely to be significant. The majority of small producers appear to be satisfied that the costs are reasonable and can be borne comfortably. Some producers with fewer than 350 laying hens will therefore have to register for the first time, in order to obtain a distinguishing number. This measure had the support of the majority of other member states. Sales in farm shops and door-to-door do however remain exempt.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

184197; 424 c245-6W

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Costs Direct selling Enforcement EU law Exemptions Farms Eggs Labelling Equipment Markets Marketing Registration

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk