Blog
EU rules out waiver for free range eggs in wake of bird flu
The European Union (EU) has ruled out any waiver on the EU’s free-range egg policy, according to a report published by Food Navigator.
According to the news site, the decision of Policy Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan is expected to affect many producers, who have been forced to abandon the free-range status in the wake of the bird flu crisis.
The report indicates that the free-range egg status was terminated in many EU countries since the last outbreak of avian influenza in 2016. European poultry farms were then forced to close their farms and even to destroy their stock.
The EU grants egg producers 12 weeks to house their flocks indoors, thus breaking the technical free range standard, in cases of emergencies such as bird flu. The allowance period has now passed and free-range chickens can no longer qualify as free range. This has led framers to appeal to the European Commission to extend a waiver on the 12 weeks limit given the circumstances. However, Commissioner Hogan has now responded by saying it would be “illegal” to do so.
The new ruling emphasizes the importance of bio-security while planning integrative systems for poultry.
“Producing involves an ongoing struggle to prevent diseases,” said Mora Paz, international sales manager and chief technologist at Agrotop. “The basis for succeeding in this task lies in the right planning and investment in bio-security.”
Paz added that during the planning stage, special focus should be given to the separate growth of different age groups and different poultry species. In addition, entrance to farms should be limited to workers only, and high hygienic standards should be adopted including showers and changes of clothing.
Paz concluded that attention should be paid to aspects relating to farm isolation, measures to prevent the disease spreading from farm to farm and to setting up advanced sanitary facilities and fences.
