UK farming unions urge European officials to extend free-range status
UK farming union presidents are urging MEPs and EU decision-makers to extend the 12-week free-range status of poultry impacted by the compulsory housing order that is currently in place until 28th February.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone was initially announced in early December by the chief veterinary officer, Nigel Gibbens, to help protect poultry and captive birds from avian flu. Following further outbreaks at the start of 2017 the prevention zone was extended until 28th February.
So far the UK has documented eight cases of the disease in domestic poultry flocks.
The NFU, NFU Cymru, NFU Scotland and Ulster Farmers’ Union is now calling on the government to help protect poultry producers from going out of business by extending the free-range status.
In a collective statement the UK farming union presidents said: “With this outbreak of avian influenza, we are in unchartered territory and this situation requires new measures that will help solve the concerns of producers.
“The four UK farming unions are calling on MEPs and EU decision-makers to extend the 12-week period on free-range status until the risk has subsided to previous levels.
“Farmers across the UK and Europe need this extension to give them certainty that their produce will have a market. The demand from shoppers for free-range eggs and poultry meat has increased significantly over the past 25 years and we want our producers to be able to provide this for them.”
The farming unions believe that the UK market will be the most severely affected from the bird flu outbreak due to having the highest percentage of free-range flock of any member state, at 50%.
“If these steps aren’t taken to protect the industry, producers are facing the very real prospect that they could go out of business and the UK market will be unable to enjoy the free-range products they demand,” the statement continued.
“British farmers have been quick to introduce enhanced biosecurity measures and have endured that the welfare of their birds remains an absolute priority.”
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