Free Range stocking density derogation to end on 1st January 2012

The British Free Range Egg Producers Association is warning longstanding producers that they need to plan for a reduction in internal stocking density.

Producers who have until now enjoyed a honeymoon period following the introduction of EU regulations in 1999 will have to comply with the regulations by the end of 2011. And producers who want to take advantage of a full flock will need to have their final flock in place by the end of this year – because Defra has told the Ranger that all layers will have to comply with the stricter stocking rules by January 1 2012.

The 1995 directive reduced internal stocking for free range egg producers from 11.7 hens per square metre to nine hens per square metre. Producers new to the industry following the introduction of the directive on August 3 1999 have been required to comply with the new stocking rules, but the EU allowed a derogation to give existing producers time to switch over to the updated regulations. They were allowed to continue stocking at 11.7 hens per square metre, but that derogation comes to an end in December 2011.

We asked Defra whether flocks in place at that time would be allowed to complete at their existing stocking rate. Defra told us they would not. "There will be no leeway," said a Defra spokesman, who said that the department would be writing to producers to remind them that the derogation was coming to an end and that they would need to plan ahead.

The BFREPA Council is keen to ensure that all producers are aware of the impending change. Deputy chairman Tom Vesey said it was important that producers were aware of the position that Defra was taking. "What it means is if you want to get a flock in at 16 week and deplete at 72 weeks you really have to get them in by early December this year in order to complete the flock in time for January 2012," he said. "People need to know that they cannot go beyond January 2012. They need to be ready."

BFREPA conducted a survey into the intentions of producers some years ago. It asked egg producers whether or not they would invest to increase the size of their buildings so that they could carry on with the same number of birds under the new stocking rates. At that time 70 per cent of respondents said they would not.

Since then there has been a significant number of new entrants into free range egg production. They will all be stocking at the level of nine birds per square metre. How many producers are still stocking at the higher rate is unknown, but they will have to ensure that they switch to the new rules by the start of 2012.