UK farming unions have urged European officials to extend the 12-week free-range status of poultry impacted by the compulsory housing order that is in place until 28 February.
Free range eggs could be completely wiped from supermarket shelves if the Government's current housing order is extended beyond the end of February.
The Presidents of the unions will ask that the extension applies to both free range eggs and poultry meat. They will plead the extension continues until the risk from avian influenza subsides.
The farming union Presidents said in a joint statement: “With this outbreak of avian influenza, we are in uncharted territory and this situation requires new measures that will help to 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.
UK will be 'most affected'
The Presidents said the UK market will be one of the most affected countries as a result of bird flu, due to half the UK's national flock being free-range, by far the highest percentage of any member state.
They continued: “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.
“British farmers have been quick to introduce enhanced biosecurity measures and have ensured that the welfare of their birds remains an absolute priority.”
The UK has documented eight cases of the disease in domestic poultry flocks and the four UK farming unions have been working closely with Defra, the devolved administrations, and the EU to deal with the outbreak.
Copa-Cogeca, the European farmers’ organisation, has sent a letter to the European Commission setting out the concerns of European farmers and offered possible solutions, such as this extension, ahead of a meeting with MEPs.
