British Egg Industry Council
Encyclopedia
The British Egg Industry Council is an organisation set up in 1986 to represent the British
egg industry
. It currently has 11 member organisations including the British Egg Products Association, the National Farmers Union and the British Free Range Egg Producers' Association. The BEIC operates the British Egg Information Service, which promotes the consumption of eggs to the public.
, feeding, traceability and freshness standards upon producers. The Lion Mark however is not necessarily a sign that the eggs are organic
or free range
. As of 2009, the British Egg Information Service claims that 85% of eggs produced in the UK are produced to Lion standards.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
egg industry
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
. It currently has 11 member organisations including the British Egg Products Association, the National Farmers Union and the British Free Range Egg Producers' Association. The BEIC operates the British Egg Information Service, which promotes the consumption of eggs to the public.
Lion Mark
The main marketing activity of the British Egg Information Service is the Lion Quality Mark scheme. This is a mark that can be stamped onto eggs by producers who are signed up to its Lion Quality Code of Practice. The code of practice requires that all laying hens must be vaccinated against Salmonella enteritidis and also places certain welfareAnimal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
, feeding, traceability and freshness standards upon producers. The Lion Mark however is not necessarily a sign that the eggs are organic
Organic food
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers, do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.For the...
or free range
Free range
thumb|250px|Free-range chickens being fed outdoors.Free range is a term which outside of the United States denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animals are allowed to roam freely instead of being contained in any manner. In the United States, USDA regulations apply only to poultry and...
. As of 2009, the British Egg Information Service claims that 85% of eggs produced in the UK are produced to Lion standards.
See also
- Egg Marketing BoardEgg Marketing BoardThe Egg Marketing Board was an agricultural marketing organization set up by the British government in December 1956 to stabilise the market for eggs due to a widespread collapse in sales. The Board purchased all the eggs produced in the UK, graded them to a national standard, and then marketed...
- Predecessor to the BEIC and the initial creator of the Lion Mark.