Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Eggs Authority

The Eggs Authority was established in March 1971 as a statutory body operating under the Agriculture Act 1970 to replace the British Egg Marketing Board, following the recommendations in the report of the Reorganisation Commission for Eggs. The twelve members of the authority were appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and the ministers of state for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and represented all sections of the egg industry and egg consumers (unlike the British Egg Marketing Board, which had been an organisation for producers only).

The authority's general mandate was to improve the marketing of eggs, for which purpose it provided a market intelligence service (detailing production, price and consumption levels in the UK and the European Economic Community) through its publications. The authority undertook generic advertising campaigns and more specific publicity activities in co-operation with grocery chains and others. It also ran a press information service and published cookery leaflets, through its British Egg Information Service. The authority also initiated and sponsored research into various aspects of the egg industry (though not egg production), and on occasion carried out price support buying of surplus egg supplies. A committee chaired by Lord Peyton of Yeovil was established in February 1985 to consider the future of the authority. The committee recommended that the authority be wound up, and it was abolished in December 1986.