U.K. free-range egg producers face labeling changes

The BEIC has announced new procedures to transition the stamping and labeling of eggs previously designated as “free range.” These apply to farmers whose flocks are registered under the British Lion free-range scheme with contracts with BEIC-registered egg packers.

Ivaylo Georgiev, Freeimages.com
Ivaylo Georgiev, Freeimages.com

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) linked to the H5N1 virus serotype continues to inflict substantial losses of birds and to livelihoods across Europe. 

In the U.K., the poultry industry is enduring a second season of outbreaks. These led the U.K. government to begin introducing an order for the compulsory housing of commercial poultry in geographical stages since October 12 last year. This covered the whole of England from November 7. By November 28, the order was brought in for Northern Ireland, and in Wales by December 2. Scotland is the only part of the country that has not invoked a similar housing order. 

For a 16-week period, a derogation is widely accepted across Europe. During that period, eggs produced by formerly free-range flocks can continue to be marketed with that designation, even though the birds are kept inside. Packing and labels may retain the “free-range” description for that period, which comes to an end on February 1.

However, industry association the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) reports that there is no prospect of an imminent end to the compulsory housing order as HPAI continues to infect poultry and other birds around the country.

As a result, the BEIC has announced new procedures to transition the stamping and labeling of eggs previously designated as “free range.” These apply to farmers whose flocks are registered under the British Lion free-range scheme with contracts with BEIC-registered egg packers.

Already on January 25, a temporary derogation to the Lion Code of Practice came into effect. This removes the requirement for each eggshell to be marked on the farm with a Producer Establishment Number (PEN). Instead, this code will be applied at the packing center — with the free-range designation — for the next few days. 

From February 1, printers at the packing centers will be re-programmed to print the “Barn PEN” on the egg shell. All free-range packs from the same date will be labeled as “barn eggs.”

BEIC sees these temporary arrangements remaining in place until seven days after the housing order is lifted. 

Double-digit decline in U.K. egg production

During the last quarter of 2022, 204 million dozen (2.448 billion) eggs passed through packing station in the U.K. This was 12% fewer than in the same period of the previous year, according to the latest statistics published by the U.K. government’s agriculture department, Defra.

In all four quarters of 2022, production was lower than in the corresponding period of 2021. For the year as a whole, total throughput was down by 7.8% at 869 million dozen.

These official statistics cover around 90% of all the eggs produced in the U.K.

Since conventional battery cages were banned, U.K. egg producers have generally favored free-range production systems over barns/aviaries or enriched cages. 

In 2022, 60% of the country’s eggs were designated as “free-range.” Almost 30% came from enriched cages, 6.6% from barns, and 4% were from certified organic farms. 

As well as the lower total output compared with the previous year, there were also some marked differences in production system. These amounted to 59%, 35%, 1.8% and 3.8%.

However, HPAI restrictions may explain these changes, at least to some extent. Between March 21 and May 2 in 2022, all eggs from free-range and organic flocks were re-labeled as barn eggs following the end of the derogation period resulting from an earlier poultry housing order.

Rising farm-gate prices recorded

At GBP0.98 (US$1.22), the average farm-gate price of one dozen eggs was 11% higher in 2022 than in the previous year. For reasons of confidentiality, prices are only published for the enriched cage and free-range categories in these reports. The year-on-year increases for both systems was GBP0.08 per dozen to GBP1.06 for free-range and GBP0.72 for cages. These amount to annual increases of 8.2% and 12.5%, respectively. 

While producers will welcome any increase in farm-gate price, it is uncertain whether these rises covered the increased costs of egg production in the U.K. over the past year.

Monthly figures for the U.K.’s import and export of shell eggs and processed egg products fluctuate through the year, and the latest month published is November. Egg imports do not appear to have increased to fill the gap arising from the 12% year-on-year drop in domestic egg production. However, for each month since April of 2022, there has been a year-on-year reduction in shell egg exports by the U.K. 

Update on the HPAI situation in U.K. poultry

As of January 24, there have been a total of 166 outbreaks of HPAI in poultry in the U.K. since the start of the 2022-2023 HPAI season in October of last year, according to Defra. Including commercial poultry, backyards and captive birds, the total comprises 144 outbreaks in England, 18 in Scotland, three in Wales, and one in Northern Ireland. There has also been one outbreak on a small farm on the Isle of Man. 

Since October of 2021, 279 outbreaks have been recorded in England. 

In the U.K., 11 premises have been hit by the disease so far in 2023. Among the most recent outbreaks are four in Scotland.

View our continuing coverage of the global avian influenza situation.

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