12 Apr 2023 --- Mandatory housing measures will be lifted on birds in England and Wales from April 18, allowing farmers to market eggs laid by hens as “free-range” again. The announcement came after the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) revealed that bird flu levels have reduced according to “the latest scientific evidence and a robust risk assessment.” The UK government warned yesterday that “scrupulous standards of biosecurity remain essential” when poultry birds are permitted to roam outside again. Enhanced biosecurity requirements will remain in force as “infection may still be circulating in the environment for several more weeks.”
