The creators of a brand of ‘super-welfare’ eggs from the Netherlands are looking to court Compassion in World Farming to help bring the eggs to the UK.

Rondeel eggs are produced in a compartmentalised circular building containing a number of areas designed to meet hens’ welfare needs, and are recognised in the Netherlands as meeting welfare standards equivalent to organic.

However, under EU egg marketing rules, the eggs have to be stamped with a code 2 - the same as barn eggs.

“The retailers are worried it will be difficult to convey to consumers that the Rondeel system offers much higher standards than barn systems,” said Rondeel general manger Ruud Zanders. “In the Netherlands, we were able to overcome this by working with animal welfare groups, and we are hoping we’ll be able to do the same with the support of Compassion in the UK.”

Compassion said the Rondeel system had “high welfare potential”.

Zanders said he hoped to approach British farmers about adopting Rondeel in due course, with a view to launching the eggs in UK mults in 2013.

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