Free-range at last: UK government lifts poultry lockdown as bird flu subsides

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.”

“The unprecedented nature of this outbreak has proven it’s more important than ever for bird keepers to remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity,” says the UK’s chief veterinary officer Dr. Christine Middlemiss.

The housing measures were introduced on November 7, 2022, to curb the avian influenza outbreaks across Europe, with over 330 cases confirmed in the UK since late October 2021 and more than 1.3 million egg-laying hens and pullets culled.

The measures will remain in force in Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the rules were never implemented after the country’s chief vet, Sheila Voas, found a lack of evidence to justify such action.

A costly issue
According to Rabobank, “eggflation” in Europe will remain high this year partly due to the bird flu problem. The Dutch bank stressed yesterday that better cooperation within production chains and protection against avian influenza in heavily affected countries is required to bring egg prices down.Hens will be allowed outside again for the first time since November 2022 in a boost to free-range egg producers.

In March, the British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) revealed that several major UK retailers had increased their prices over the last month, particularly on large free-range eggs.

Asda raised the cost of 12 large free-range eggs by 33 pence last month to £2.80 (US$3.48), while the price of 12 large free-range eggs in both Sainsbury’s and Aldi rose by 50 pence in the last year.

In late 2022, retailers were hit hard by egg shortages after producers cut back on production or left the industry altogether due to soaring production costs. BFREPA says some supermarkets are still experiencing shortages as a result.

The shortages led some retailers to import eggs from abroad. Sainsbury’s sparked a “strong backlash” when it began selling Italian eggs in November, according to BFREPA.

The data is now starting to show signs of production increasing, with the free-range flock growing by 250,000 birds since January,” says BFREPA’s CEO Robert Gooch. “However, despite this upturn, there is naturally a lag between the decision of producers to return to production and the availability of eggs.”

Progress and precautions
BFREPA has welcomed the government’s decision to lift the mandatory housing measures in areas not classified as “protection zones,” but yesterday urged all bird keepers to “remain vigilant and maintain high biosecurity standards” in line with DEFRA’s advice.Eggs are widely considered a nutritious and affordable food but “eggflation” has sent prices soaring across Europe.

In a statement shared with FoodIngredientsFirst, Gooch says: “This has been the worst season for avian influenza in the UK, and free-range egg producers will be relieved to see their hens outside again.”

“While on the range, hens like to scratch, dust bathe and forage for additional food, displaying the natural behaviors that consumers associate with free-range and organic egg production.”

“However, it is vital that all poultry keepers – regardless of bird numbers – continue to treat the situation as high risk, taking all necessary precautions to limit the continued transmission of the virus now that hens are ranging again.”

“This message is particularly important to small flock and backyard keepers who may not be aware that practicing good biosecurity principles can help protect nearby farms.”

BFREPA says it will continue to work with the government and other industry stakeholders to explore options that may reduce the threat of avian influenza to commercial poultry.

Meanwhile, the government has urged all bird keepers to register their flocks. Registration is a legal requirement for bird keepers with 50 poultry birds or more. 

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed that the risk of bird flu to public health is “very low.”

On the continent, the European Food Safety Authority warned last month that the poultry infection risk could increase in the coming months.

By Joshua Poole