Rising demand for cage-free eggs in China has prompted the event of an industry-leading certification scheme to safe provide chain transparency
5 June 2024
3 minute learn
In 2021, China’s first group commonplace on cage-free egg manufacturing was revealed by the China Chain Retailer & Franchise Affiliation and up to date two years later. The group that wrote the usual, led by IQC, FAI and Intertek, is now introducing a certification scheme – and already seeing encouraging outcomes.
In little greater than a yr, 17 cage-free laying hen farms in China are licensed, representing 500,000 birds, with over half of those increasing their cage-free manufacturing permitting extra laying hens to stay in a excessive welfare cage-free setting.
A world-leading Commonplace
The publication of the Commonplace adopted an in-depth take a look at cage-free farms in China to construct a stable basis for establishing a dependable and relevant commonplace and technical information. Consequently, the Commonplace covers points of manufacturing similar to laying hens’ behavioural wants and dietary necessities, welfare coaching for farm workers, the adoption of standardized farm administration and fundamental meals security necessities for egg merchandise.
Concerned with writing the usual, FAI CEO Øistein Thorsen stated, “The time was proper to ascertain greatest follow. It’s driving enhancements throughout an {industry} reworking itself from caged to cage-free farming.”
The ‘cage free’ label was registered in China by IQC permitting it to authorise licensed farms to make use of the label on egg packaging.
With greater than 2,000 worldwide retailers, together with 150 firms in China, committing to sourcing 100% cage-free eggs by 2025, cage-free egg certification is enabling farms to provide a number of worldwide and home manufacturers in cities throughout China and abroad.
Certification aids transparency
However because the cage-free egg market grows in China, there may be concern some producers may promote caged eggs as cage free to satisfy elevated demand or promote cage-free eggs past their manufacturing functionality.
Equally, consumers might place caged eggs as cage-free eggs to fulfil orders and save procurement prices. To guard towards each these situations, IQC launched a cage-free egg traceability system in early 2024.
The system can management each the manufacturing and gross sales ranges of an authorized farm. When the system detects gross sales exceeding the farm’s manufacturing capability, IQC is alerted.
The system produces anti-counterfeit traceability codes to watch the circulation of cage-free eggs. The codes are printed by IQC and offered to licensed producers to be used on egg packaging, with the variety of codes managed in line with the farm’s manufacturing capability.
Consumers and shoppers can scan the code to see detailed certification data of the egg producer.
“This can be a large step ahead for the event of cage-free eggs in China,” stated Dr. Chaunwu Xiong, CEO at IQC. “The certification scheme and supporting traceability helps keep a reliable market and permits consumers and shoppers to supply dependable cage-free eggs. Consciousness amongst shoppers of ‘cage free’ indicating ‘prime quality, wholesome and secure’ is rising in order demand rises, we hope and anticipate increasingly laying hens in China to expertise the upper welfare circumstances of cage-free programs.”
To seek out out extra, contact [email protected].
Licensed farms introducing increased welfare multi-tier barn programs
Among the many newly licensed cage-free laying hen farms in China, six are utilizing a multi-tier barn system. Using a number of tiers inside a barn permits laying hens to exhibit pure behaviours. Hens begin the day on perches within the prime the barn, working their approach down by way of every tier throughout daytime to eat, drink, lay eggs within the nesting containers and eventually exit to pasture at floor degree. An instance of any such excessive welfare system in the USA, is proven right here. This video was produced for coaching functions for Chinese language egg firms and types working to broaden cage-free manufacturing.
