Welfare row over rise in egg imports from Poland and Ukraine

Ukraine and Poland have overtaken other EU countries to become the UK’s biggest egg suppliers, leading to warnings that imports from caged hens are slipping “through the back door”, despite welfare pledges.

- Sarah Marsh Consumer affairs correspondent

Freedom of information data from the Animal and Plant Health Agency shows that, while the Netherlands supplied a large proportion of UK eggs in 2022, its share has steadily fallen. By 2025, Ukraine and Poland together accounted for more than 15m kg, with Spain, Italy, and other southern and eastern European countries also having increased their exports.

Ukraine has provided the most eggs so far this year by weight at 8m kg, followed by almost 7m kg from Poland and 5m from Spain, according to data provided up to July this year.

Imports of eggs for consumption rose sharply from about 3,500 consignments in 2023 to more than 10,000 in 2024. Although overall tonnage declined, fewer big shipments have been replaced by many small ones from regions where caged-hen systems remain widespread.