Welsh layers to stay ‘free-range’ after 16 weeks of housing

Welsh egg producers have welcomed confirmation that labelling rules are to change which will allow hens that are housed for more than 16 weeks during an avian influenza outbreak to retain their free-range status indefinitely.

The announcement by rural affairs minister Huw Irranca-Davies follows a consultation on the matter earlier this year – though it is still not clear when the new regulations will take effect.

See also: Labelling rules for free-range poultry to be eased

In a written statement issued on 1 November, Mr Irranca-Davies said that he had reached the decision to “remove the derogation period for free-range eggs in Wales”, which currently lasts for just 16 weeks.

But he added that “some additional work is ongoing on poultrymeat marketing standards, and there will be further updates on this in due course”. 

In England it was confirmed in August that the requirement to relabel eggs as “barn eggs” after 16 weeks was to be waived.

Defra has subsequently confirmed that the new labelling legislation will take effect in January 2025.

Equivalent treatment 

NFU Cymru poultry chairman Richard Williams said the union had lobbied Welsh government hard for equivalent treatment for a number of reasons.

“From the disease control point of view, it makes sense for birds to be housed over high-risk periods and not to have an arbitrary 16-week cut off,” he said.

“Also, to have different rules to England on free-range egg labelling would be a logistical nightmare for packers, as there is a huge movement of eggs both ways over the Welsh border.”

Research had also shown that the majority of egg consumers were happy for eggs to continue to be stamped with the free-range label when hens, for their own welfare, have to be temporarily housed whilst the risk from avian influenza is in place.