Defra and the Scottish Government are proposing 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 housing measures.
You can find further information on current egg marketing standards in the UK and what this change may mean for domestic egg production further down on this page.
NFU position
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 consulted on. The NFU ask has always been for amendments to the egg marketing regulations to apply across Great Britain and we are disappointed at the absence of Welsh Government involvement in this consultation.
NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead said: “This consultation provides an opportunity to remove any unnecessary burden on egg producers in England and Scotland enabling a level playing field with poultry producers in the EU.
“However, many businesses operate nationally across Great Britain, so it’s critical that eggs produced in Wales are also included in any changes to marketing regulations.”