Free range eggs may have to be renamed because of bird flu restrictions
I wondered if this might happen. I am increasingly concerned about an incremental rather than a joined up approach to this issue. Anyone taking bets on a series of last minute further extension of the restrictions until the end of the migration season? If this does happen people can justifiably ask why no sensible provision for the likely long term impact of this policy was considered… This story tells us in detail:
UK egg producers have warned that the future of the premium free range sector is at risk should the eggs lose their prized status because of the ongoing threat of bird flu.
Flocks of free range hens are being housed indoors because of the bird flu outbreak and if they are unable to go back outside by the end of February the eggs will be downgraded to “barn produced”, the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has said.
In December the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ordered that all free range hens – providing eggs or meat – be housed to protect against the threat of the H5N8 influenza virus. At that time there were no cases in the UK but there were numerous reports of cases in other European countries. The so-called housing order was for 30 days.
Since then, cases of H5N8 have been found in the UK – on two turkey farms in Lincolnshire and in backyard flocks in Wales and North Yorkshire – as well as in a number of wild birds around the country. The chief veterinary officer, Nigel Gibbens, subsequently extended the housing order until the end of February. Bird flu has since been found in a flock of farmed pheasants in Lancashire.
Concern is now growing among free range producers because the extension will take the housing order to the end of the 12-week period – imposed by the EU – beyond which free range birds will lose their status unless they are allowed outdoors. Mark Williams, the chief executive of the BEIC, is calling for the 12-week cut-off to be extended.