Following consultation with industry, Defra and the Scottish Government are to remove the 16-week free range grace period for eggs produced in England or Scotland, allowing eggs to be labelled as free range instead of barn when laying poultry are housed throughout the duration of mandatory AI (avian influenza) housing measures.
This regulatory change has been one of the NFU’s four key asks for AI (avian influenza) policy, alongside asks on AI compensation and long-term strategy including access to insurance and vaccination.
The NFU first called for this change in October 2022 and we are pleased this proposed amendment is now finally being delivered.
NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead welcomed the news, saying:
“The removal of the 16-week derogation period will be welcomed by producers in England and Scotland who have previously faced significant practical challenges and costs. We continue to urge the Welsh Government to align so that producers in Wales are not disadvantaged.
The NFU ask has always been for amendments to the egg marketing regulations to apply across Great Britain and we were disappointed at the absence of Welsh Government involvement in this consultation.