I've just done a check on how the EU deals with law breakers - the so-called infringement proceedings. In a nutshell, it works as follows:

• The EU Commission starts by investigating the alleged non-compliance with EU law (the stage we are currently at with member states still using illegal battery cages)
• This is followed by a “letter of formal notice”, when the member state is given two months in which to submit its views, or conform with the law
• Next, the commission sends the member state a “reasoned opinion”, explaining why it is in breach of EU law and giving it two months to conform
• If there is still non-compliance, the commission may take the member state to the European Court of Justice. Most cases take two years to conclude

This is the process we followed with the French ban on British beef following BSE - and it eventually led to a fine for the French government. But in the years it took to get there, literally hundreds of British beef farmers lost their livelihoods as a consequence of lost markets and low prices.

Let's hope egg producers don't suffer a similar fate...

phil, You might be hoping in vain, unless.................. if Cameron just decides "you lot can do what you like, we will not put up with it so keep your eggs because they will not be landed in Britain."  Unlikely though, it does not have the same effect as his stance against them a couple of months back.

old mcdonald:

phil, You might be hoping in vain, unless

I agree with Old Mac. Mind you, he is a unreconstructed and outrageous optimist compared to me as regards any British Government standing up for our interests.

To them British interests always perfectly align to the interests of someone else.