French farmers go on egg smashing rampage in protest over low prices

French poultry farmers have smashed 100,000 eggs outside a tax office in Brittany in a protest over low prices. The farmers in north-western France threatened to continue smashing 100,000 eggs daily. They say that equates to 5% of Brittany's daily egg production.



They want France's total egg production to be cut by 5% to help raise prices. The farmers' costs have risen partly because EU animal welfare rules require bigger cages for hens. The protest took place in Carhaix-Plouguer.



An EU directive that took effect on 1 January 2012 requires that all laying hens must be kept in "enriched cages" with extra space to nest, scratch and roost.


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The French farmers say they are now paid 75 euro cents (£0.60; $1) for a kilogram of eggs but their production cost is 95 cents and that 'un oeuf is enough'.