British egg producers urge fair trade rules as Ukrainian imports surge

Published on : 20 Nov 2025

BFREPA has held a series of urgent and constructive meetings with DEFRA and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) to raise serious concerns about the sharp rise in Ukrainian egg imports entering the UK under current trade agreements. The association has consistently highlighted to ministers that while the UK’s support for Ukraine remains essential, that support must not come at the expense of British free range egg producers who operate to some of the highest animal welfare, food safety and environmental standards in the world.

Since late 2024, producers have witnessed a significant increase in imported Ukrainian egg products, a trend driven in part by the European Union’s introduction of stricter controls on Ukrainian poultry and egg products entering the single market. This displaced volume has increasingly been diverted to the UK, raising fears among British producers that the domestic market is becoming destabilised. BFREPA has repeatedly underlined that products produced to systems banned in the UK can be produced at lower cost, creating an uneven playing field that British egg producers cannot be expected to compete with. In short, if it is illegal to produce here, then it should be illegal to import.

To ensure these concerns are understood at the highest levels of government, BFREPA has written jointly with the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC), the RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) and Animal Policy International to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The letter calls for urgent action ahead of the forthcoming review of tariff suspensions, stressing the need for imported egg products to meet welfare and production standards equivalent to those required of UK producers. It also urges the government to introduce volume limits with annual reviews to prevent further disruption and to fully recognise the sensitive nature of the egg sector in all future trade decisions. BFREPA is clear that the UK can maintain its support for Ukraine but at the same time safeguarding the long-term viability of the UK egg sector.

“British free range and organic egg producers take enormous pride in delivering food produced to exceptionally high welfare, food safety and environmental standards. But no sector can remain viable when it is forced to compete with imports produced in systems that would be illegal here in the UK. Our support for Ukraine is steadfast, but it must not undermine the investment UK egg producers have made in relation to improving welfare in UK production of eggs. We are asking the government to act swiftly to restore fairness in the marketplace, protect our egg producers, and ensure the continued strength and security of British egg production.”
— James Baxter, BFREPA Chairman and Free Range Egg Producer

PRESS NOTES FOR MEDIA
• Rising Ukrainian imports are creating significant pressure on UK egg producers.
• BFREPA is calling for equivalent welfare, food safety and production standards on imported eggs.
• The organisation is also urging the government to introduce volume limits with annual reviews.
• BFREPA stresses the need to protect the long-term viability of the UK egg sector.
• Spokesperson available for interview: Gary Ford, Head of Strategy and Producer Engagement.