Nine in ten EU egg imports come from caged hens - new report

Around nine in ten eggs and egg products imported into the EU now come from caged hens, according to new analysis by Animal Policy International, which calls for the EU’s forthcoming import requirements to cover both shell eggs and processed egg products to ensure that eggs from caged hens don’t enter the EU market. 

The report, Closing the Welfare Gap on Imported Eggs, examines EU egg imports, the production systems behind them and the implications for the European Commission’s planned revision of animal welfare rules for laying hens.

Its findings reveal the scale of the trade. The value of EU imports of eggs and egg products increased more than eightfold between 2021 and 2025, rising from around €40 million to €336 million. An estimated nine million or more caged hens supply these imports – a population larger than the entire national laying-hen flock of 20 of the EU’s 27 Member States.

Millions of caged hens behind everyday food products

Not all imported eggs arrive in their shells. Almost a quarter of the caged hens behind EU egg imports are estimated to produce eggs for processing, which are broken at origin and exported as liquid or dried egg products.

These ingredients are used in everyday foods, including bakery products, sauces, confectionery and ready meals. Once incorporated into other products, the production systems behind the eggs can be difficult for consumers to identify.

The trade extends beyond a handful of suppliers. Five countries – Ukraine, Türkiye, North Macedonia, Argentina and China – account for more than 95% of imports estimated to come from caged hens.

The report also finds that dried egg products account for around 6% of imports by weight but 21% of the caged hens estimated to supply EU egg imports. In 2025 alone, the EU imported around 786 tonnes of dried egg white, equivalent to more than 100 million eggs.

Why the form of imported eggs matters

The findings come as the European Commission prepares its forthcoming proposal to phase out cages for laying hens in the EU and introduce equivalent welfare requirements for imports.

The report examines the practical implications of extending the requirements across the supply chain, including existing import controls and certification arrangements. It also considers the consistency of the proposed approach with international trade rules.

API recommends that the Commission explicitly cover shell eggs and processed egg products in the final laying-hen legislation.

Explore the data

Alongside the report, API has published an interactive EU egg imports dashboard, allowing users to explore the trade data and investigate the share of imports estimated to come from caged hens.

The dashboard provides a way to examine the findings by supplying country and EU Member State, bringing the scale and composition of the trade into view.

Read the full report: Closing the Welfare Gap on Imported Eggs.

Explore the data: EU Egg Imports Dashboard.