Czech Republic bans egg imports from Poland

The Czech Republic has banned the import of Polish eggs as they have failed to conform to the new EU laying hen welfare regulations.

Czech inspectors have stopped imports of about half a million eggs, and accuse not only Poland but also France, Spain and Romania of failing to introduce the new legislation against chicken cages.

Eggs from Poland are strong competition to the local produce and the import ban is also seen as a way to protect national egg manufacturers on the market.

Poland is one of 15 countries facing punishment from the European Commission for failing to introduce modern cages, but Polish chicken farmers have objected to the new recommendations, mainly because of the costs of the exchange.

Meanwhile, the Czech Agriculture Ministry has announced that their producers have all fulfilled the new requirements.