The government has announced that free-range poultry meat producers and processors will no longer need to change how free-range poultry meat is labelled when mandatory housing measures are introduced.
Currently, when mandatory housing measures are introduced to protect poultry from the spread of disease, after 12 weeks, free-range poultry has to be labelled as indoor reared.
The Poultry Meat Marketing Standards Regulation in England will be amended so that this time limit is removed, enabling free-range poultry meat to be sold as such for the duration of the housing order.
In recent years, outbreaks of bird flu in England have led to the introduction of mandatory housing measures which on several occasions have exceeded the 12-week maximum derogation period.
The government said the amendment to existing legislation will mean that free-range poultry meat can, as long as the rest of the criteria are met, continue to be labelled as such throughout mandatory housing measures.
The government has said the move will cut ‘unnecessary red tape’ and costs for British producers while also strengthening supply chain and maintaining consumer confidence.
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner said:
“Our priority is to support English free-range poultry farmers while ensuring clear and fair labelling for consumers.
“Amending the poultry meat marketing regulations will enable the sector to keep costs down and remain competitive.
“This government will restore stability and confidence in the sector introducing a new deal for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security alongside nature’s recovery.”
The proposal to remove this derogation period for England and Scotland was supported by the majority of respondents to an eight-week consultation by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) last year.
Similar legislative changes are to be introduced by the Scottish Government.
Last week the first recorded case of bird flu in sheep was recorded. The case was detected in a single sheep in Yorkshire.
