In accordance with multiple sections of EU regulations, Latvia’s Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) has decided to pull from trade eggs imported from Ukraine. The reason for this is that those eggs are improperly labeled, misleading consumers about the method laying hens were treated.
The eggs in question were imported from Ukraine. However, the packaging states “barn-laid eggs”, but the European Union and Ukraine still have not coordinated animal welfare standards. This means egg packaging needs to have a visible label stating that the eggs were not produced in accordance with EU standards.
Packaging used by imported eggs is not allowed to use labels detailing EU standards for hens.
PVD explains that this is a repeated case of customers being misled about animal welfare standards and abuse of consumers’ trust. Two years ago, eggs imported from Ukraine with packaging labeled with No. 3 label started appearing on the European market. In response to this the European Commission noted that packaging of these eggs needed to have a label stating “Manufactured not in accordance with EU standards”.
European producers, Latvia included, invest millions into compliance with EU requirements in order to sell their eggs in the EU with appropriate labels.
At a meeting of the European Egg Packers and Traders Association (EEPTA) on March 25 European Commission’s DB AGRI representative Diane Spiteri reported that Ukraine was committed to improving its animal welfare acts and coordinating them with European regulations, but no sooner than 2026. Until then all imported eggs produced in Ukraine will need to have a label “Manufactured not in accordance with EU standards”. (BNN/Business World Magazine)