The All Party Parliamentary Group for eggs, pigs and poultry is due to hold three oral evidence sessions at the Houses of Parliament this month, dealing with questions related to planning, antibiotics and welfare.
The group, which has the support of the National Pig Association, the British Poultry Council, the British Egg Industry Council and the National Farmers Union, has been looking at how these issues are affecting the competitiveness of the industries concerned, since January this year.
A particular focus of the group, chaired by Tiverton and Honiton MP, Neil Parish, is to assess whether or not farm animal welfare, environmental and food safety regulations, agreed at EU level, are, in any way, placing the UK at a disadvantage to other member states.
The first oral session was held on October 14 and dealt with planning issues; antibiotics are on the agenda for October 21 and welfare listed for October 28.
All sessions will be held in Room N, Portcullis House, Palace of Westminster, taking place from 10.00-11.30 each day. Witnesses at each evidence session will consist of a “number of experts” from the egg, pig and poultry sectors and from other groups outside the industry, such as the RSPCA.