Document type: article published in Le Point Vétérinaire.fr on 26/06/2024
Author: Tanit Halfon
Preview: The egg interprofessional group (CNPO) has just unveiled its new industry plan for 2030. Its overriding aim is to consolidate its favorable position in the market, by strengthening existing moves to ensure the sustainability of farming systems. Indeed, as we are reminded, eggs are "popular with consumers": household egg purchases are up, by 3% in volume for 2023 compared to 2022, "driven by the increase in purchases of eggs from hens housed on the ground (+22.4%) and outdoors (+13.2% excluding Label Rouge)". The trend is set to continue during 2024. In addition, a survey carried out in 2023 revealed that more than 7 out of 10 French consumers, or 71% of those questioned, considered eggs to be a useful product during difficult times; and 87% considered them to be an inexpensive option for the consumption of animal proteins. By 2023, with 14.9 billion eggs produced, France will have regained its position as Europe's leading egg producer (closely followed by Spain and Germany). In this context, which is also characterized by potential competition from low-cost imports, the interprofession has decided to move forward "by collectively setting new voluntary objectives to guarantee the country's food sovereignty with quality products adapted to market expectations, produced with respect for animal welfare and the environment, and in a manner that ensures sufficient revenues at all levels of the sector".
Towards the end of cage farming: The plan is built around four pathways. One key point is the intention to create 300 new hen barns by 2030 "to keep pace with the increase in French consumption". The plan also sets a target that 90% of laying hens should be housed in alternative systems (excluding cages) by 2030, whether using ground-based, free-range or organic methods. Other highly practical measures include a 40% target for farmers to carry out an initial environmental assessment of their farms using the CAP2ER tool, a 50% target for farmers to use EBENE, the self-diagnosis application for animal welfare, and the installation of photovoltaic panels on 20% of buildings, meaning that the laying hen sector "could contribute 10% to the overall objective of 20,000 ha of solar panel installations promised by France at COP 21". Among other measures, the industry seeks to roll out vaccinations against salmonella, with government support, and set up an observatory on the use of antibiotics "to provide evidence for the continued low use of antibiotics". Traceability will also be strengthened, with the extension of the "Œufs de France" initiative to all agri-food businesses.
Link to the CNPO industry plan
