At the end of last year, the UK Government announced plans to consult on banning the use of cages in egg production as part of its wider animal welfare strategy.
Although animal welfare is devolved and the Scottish Government consulted on this issue in 2024, this latest consultation is UK-wide and will have significant implications for Scottish egg producers.
We must ensure our voices are heard.
Where we are now
Traditional battery cages were banned in 2012. Since then, producers have invested heavily in alternative systems, including free-range, barn and colony housing.
Scotland has already transitioned significantly. Caged production now accounts for just 17.5% of output and that figure continues to fall. No new colony units have been built in recent years.
The direction of travel is clear. The industry recognises that. However, a legislative ban on colony systems raises serious and practical concerns around:
- Timing of transition
- Capital investment already made
- Planning barriers for new infrastructure
- Food affordability for consumers
- Protection from lower-standard imports
Why this consultation matters
The 2024 Scottish Government consultation received unprecedented numbers of responses from campaigners opposed to cage systems.
If producers do not respond in strong numbers, the debate becomes unbalanced.
This is not just about whether you currently use colony systems. It is about:
- The future structure of the egg sector
- Fairness for those who have already invested
- Ensuring transition aligns with natural replacement cycles
- Avoiding stranded investment
- Protecting against cheaper imported shell egg, liquid egg and egg products
We need a balanced, evidence-based response from those who actually produce food.
Our Position
NFU Scotland recognises that the sector is moving towards cage-free production. The Scottish egg industry is already close to fully cage-free and, with the right support, will complete that transition sustainably.
However, producers must not be forced into change without:
- Sufficient lead-in time
- Financial support
- A workable planning system
- Confidence that the market will support higher production costs
- Equivalent standards for imported shell egg, liquid egg and egg products
There is little sense in raising domestic standards if lower-standard imports are allowed to undercut Scottish producers.
Responding to the Consultation
Although we are seeking input from members to enable us to submit a comprehensive response on your behalf, you are also strongly urged to respond to the UK Government consultation as individuals.
The consultation closes on 9 March.
It is vital that you take the time to submit your own response. As we saw in 2024, there will be a high number of submissions from those opposed to cage systems. It is therefore essential that the practical farming perspective is properly represented.
The consultation also includes questions specific to individual businesses and experiences, which we cannot meaningfully aggregate within the NFUS response.
In addition, NFU Scotland is running its own short survey to gather egg producers’ views, which will directly shape our formal submission.
You can access the NFUS survey via the link in your member newsletter or by logging into the secure members’ area of our website and
clicking here.
Please complete the NFUS survey by 2 March.
The more responses submitted by active producers, the stronger and more credible our collective position will be.