UEP Certified Program Gets Tougher
ATLANTA -- The United Egg Producers' (UEP) board of directors here has approved recommendations from an independent scientific advisory committee for more stringent air quality standards in egg-laying facilities.
"Once again, UEP and U.S. egg farmers have responded to science to improve the welfare of egg-laying hens," said UEP v.p. Gene Gregory in a statement. "These new standards will improve the air quality in laying houses for our hens as well as our workers."
The new standards have been incorporated into the United Egg Producers Certified animal welfare guidelines and will significantly reduce ammonia concentration from animal waste in egg-laying facilities, according to the UEP.
Recently UEP adopted new molting guidelines permitting only nonfeed withdrawal molts. UEP-funded research discovered new methods to induce a successful molt that didn't include feed withdrawal. An independent scientific advisory committee of scientists and researchers reviewed and endorsed the findings.
UEP developed the "United Egg Producers Certified" program for cage egg production, based on guidelines established by an independent advisory committee of some of the top animal welfare scientific experts in the United States; supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the International Egg Commission; and endorsed by such industry groups as the Food Marketing Institute.
"Once again, UEP and U.S. egg farmers have responded to science to improve the welfare of egg-laying hens," said UEP v.p. Gene Gregory in a statement. "These new standards will improve the air quality in laying houses for our hens as well as our workers."
The new standards have been incorporated into the United Egg Producers Certified animal welfare guidelines and will significantly reduce ammonia concentration from animal waste in egg-laying facilities, according to the UEP.
Recently UEP adopted new molting guidelines permitting only nonfeed withdrawal molts. UEP-funded research discovered new methods to induce a successful molt that didn't include feed withdrawal. An independent scientific advisory committee of scientists and researchers reviewed and endorsed the findings.
UEP developed the "United Egg Producers Certified" program for cage egg production, based on guidelines established by an independent advisory committee of some of the top animal welfare scientific experts in the United States; supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, and the International Egg Commission; and endorsed by such industry groups as the Food Marketing Institute.