Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's consultation entitled Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages, published on 12 January 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning caged (a) eggs and (b) egg products from (i) EU and (ii) non-EU countries.

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, sought views on that assessment. The consultation also sought additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. We are now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.