Egg labelling changes have been introduced for poultry that have been housed due to the bird flu outbreak.
Defra has announced that eggs originating from free-range flocks in the east of England will need to be labelled as barn eggs from today (1 February), with the rest of England following from 27 February.
The move is in line with Eggs Marketing Standards Regulations, which require labelling changes (after a 16-week grace period), following the introduction of a regional (12 October) and subsequent national mandatory housing order (7 November), amid the country’s worst-ever avian flu outbreak.
Defra said the same packaging options to retailers and suppliers would be allowed as last year. This means that where other options are not feasible, such as over-stickering or marketing eggs in “barn-reared” boxes, industry will be allowed to use direct print to pack or an affixed label on free-range boxes to communicate to consumers that the eggs have come from hens that are now barn reared.
This was in recognition of the increased prices faced by the sector, Defra said.
“Farmers and poultry producers are facing real pressures as a result of this avian influenza outbreak,” said farming minister Mark Spencer. “We hope the labelling concessions announced today will help ease the burden industry is facing.”
The labelling rules will remain in place until the housing order is lifted.
The UK has faced its largest-ever outbreak of avian influenza during the past two years, with over 300 cases confirmed since late October 2021, of which 270 have been in England.
Enhanced biosecurity measures, including housing mandated by the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone currently in force in England, have been vital in protecting flocks from AI and driving down the case rate in the face of unprecedented wild bird infections.
“Hens are housed for their own welfare and we are supportive of the housing order as it is the most effective measure to reduce the chances of a bird flu outbreak,” said a British Free Range Egg Producers Association spokesman. “Unfortunately, as we have seen just this week, it does not mean that birds are completely shielded from AI, but it is our best defence,” he added, citing the continued prevalence of new cases.
An indication of farming method must continue to appear on the outer surface of packs containing eggs in easily visible and clearly legible type. Eggs must also be stamped with the appropriate code to show that the farming method has changed from “free-range” to “barn” production.
BFREPA said it did not expect there to be “any impact on the price paid to producers as a result of the labelling change”.
“We are very mindful of the need to maintain consumer confidence in the free-range brand long-term and appreciate the continued co-operation from the sector as we battle this insidious disease,” added Spencer.
In light of these changes, the RSPCA has called on the public to continue to support hen welfare with their purchasing decisions by buying “higher-welfare” RSPCA Assured eggs.
“We want to reassure the public that it is still possible to buy eggs from hens that have been well cared for,” said Kate Norman, the RSPCA’s laying hen welfare expert. “Whether free-range, organic or barn, RSPCA Assured eggs are always from farms inspected to the RSPCA’s higher welfare standards.”
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