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| Free-range eggs temporarily lose status after bird flu measures | Free-range eggs temporarily lose status after bird flu measures |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Millions of UK eggs will temporarily lose their free-range status after hens were forced to spend weeks inside barns as part of emergency bird flu measures. | Millions of UK eggs will temporarily lose their free-range status after hens were forced to spend weeks inside barns as part of emergency bird flu measures. |
| Since December, poultry has had to be kept indoors under government orders to prevent the spread of the disease. | Since December, poultry has had to be kept indoors under government orders to prevent the spread of the disease. |
| Under European Union rules, if birds have been housed for more than 12 weeks they cannot be marketed as free range. | Under European Union rules, if birds have been housed for more than 12 weeks they cannot be marketed as free range. |
| Farmers said the eggs would still look, taste and cost the same, despite the temporary re-labelling. | Farmers said the eggs would still look, taste and cost the same, despite the temporary re-labelling. |
| They pose no danger to consumers, but bird flu is highly contagious amongst poultry and can wipe out entire flocks. | They pose no danger to consumers, but bird flu is highly contagious amongst poultry and can wipe out entire flocks. |
| It has been 12 weeks since governments in England, Scotland and Wales ordered poultry keepers to protect their birds from a highly-infectious strain of avian flu in Europe. | It has been 12 weeks since governments in England, Scotland and Wales ordered poultry keepers to protect their birds from a highly-infectious strain of avian flu in Europe. |
| The emergency measures are now being scaled back, but many farmers are keeping their hens indoors for the birds' protection. | The emergency measures are now being scaled back, but many farmers are keeping their hens indoors for the birds' protection. |
| 'Still free range' | 'Still free range' |
| To avoid confusion, the industry has decided to label free-range egg cartons with stickers stating the contents were "laid by hens temporarily housed in barns for their welfare". | To avoid confusion, the industry has decided to label free-range egg cartons with stickers stating the contents were "laid by hens temporarily housed in barns for their welfare". |
| They started appearing on shelves last week, but will be rolled out fully on Wednesday. | They started appearing on shelves last week, but will be rolled out fully on Wednesday. |
| "The need to change labelling of free-range egg packs after 12 weeks is an EU requirement," said Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council. | "The need to change labelling of free-range egg packs after 12 weeks is an EU requirement," said Mark Williams, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council. |
| "However, these are all still free-range hens, but some are temporarily housed to protect them from bird flu." | "However, these are all still free-range hens, but some are temporarily housed to protect them from bird flu." |
| Mr Williams said: "Our research shows that consumers are supportive of farmers putting birds' health first and 80% are happy to continue to pay the same price, or more, for eggs from free-range flocks temporarily housed inside." | |
| There are four different types of eggs sold in the UK, all of which are stamped on the carton: organic, free-range, barn-reared, and caged. | |
| Hens laying free-range eggs must have had unlimited daytime access to runs - fenced areas - with vegetation and at least 4 sq m of outside space per bird. | |
| Prices to stay the same | Prices to stay the same |
| By Emma Simpson, BBC business correspondent | By Emma Simpson, BBC business correspondent |
| After weeks of being kept indoors, farmers would love nothing better than to let their birds back outside. | After weeks of being kept indoors, farmers would love nothing better than to let their birds back outside. |
| But it's a difficult balancing act. Get it wrong and a farmer could end up having his or her entire flock destroyed. | But it's a difficult balancing act. Get it wrong and a farmer could end up having his or her entire flock destroyed. |
| So the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has taken the unprecedented step of labelling all commercial boxes of free-range eggs - whether hens are in or out - in order to create a level playing field for all farmers. | So the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has taken the unprecedented step of labelling all commercial boxes of free-range eggs - whether hens are in or out - in order to create a level playing field for all farmers. |
| Farmers say the label is just a technicality in any case as the hens are still free-range, just temporarily housed to protect them from bird flu. | Farmers say the label is just a technicality in any case as the hens are still free-range, just temporarily housed to protect them from bird flu. |
| They hope consumers will be supportive, given that prices, for now, are staying the same. | They hope consumers will be supportive, given that prices, for now, are staying the same. |
| But it's not an open-ended guarantee and they will all be hoping that things get back to normal by the end of April. | But it's not an open-ended guarantee and they will all be hoping that things get back to normal by the end of April. |
| How are free-range hens being treated indoors? | How are free-range hens being treated indoors? |
| The UK has the largest free-range flock in Europe - and farmers are trying hard to help the birds adapt to the new routine, according to BEIC. | The UK has the largest free-range flock in Europe - and farmers are trying hard to help the birds adapt to the new routine, according to BEIC. |
| Some are using footballs, plastic bottles and straw bales to stop the birds - which can normally peck whatever they want outside - from getting bored. | Some are using footballs, plastic bottles and straw bales to stop the birds - which can normally peck whatever they want outside - from getting bored. |
| The hens also have continuous access to feed and water, and are already used to spending time inside because they go there at night, the BEIC points out. | The hens also have continuous access to feed and water, and are already used to spending time inside because they go there at night, the BEIC points out. |
| The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the majority of farmers in England could let birds outside provided they follow "strict disease prevention measures". | The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the majority of farmers in England could let birds outside provided they follow "strict disease prevention measures". |
| "Producers in the higher risk areas could still market their eggs as free-range, provided they use netting and meet other free-range criteria," a Defra spokesperson said. | "Producers in the higher risk areas could still market their eggs as free-range, provided they use netting and meet other free-range criteria," a Defra spokesperson said. |
| However, farmers pointed out that the average flock would require eight football pitches worth of netting, making it impractical and costly. | However, farmers pointed out that the average flock would require eight football pitches worth of netting, making it impractical and costly. |
| The BEIC said "continuing outbreaks of avian influenza across the UK and Europe" meant egg producers and their veterinary advisers remained concerned about the risk. | The BEIC said "continuing outbreaks of avian influenza across the UK and Europe" meant egg producers and their veterinary advisers remained concerned about the risk. |
| The government is due to review the restrictions again at the end of April, when farmers hope the risk will be lower because many wild birds will have migrated. | The government is due to review the restrictions again at the end of April, when farmers hope the risk will be lower because many wild birds will have migrated. |
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