Trading standards for eggs and measures against bird flu

22.12.2016

Question for written answer P-009742-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Bas Belder (ECR) , Jan Huitema (ALDE)

Because of the risk of infection with highly pathogenic bird flu, Member States are taking necessary measures, including requiring poultry to be kept indoors.

Some poultry farmers have invested in free-range facilities (4m² of outdoor area per hen). Trading standards stipulate that, if access to the free-range area is restricted for more than 12 weeks on veterinary grounds, free-range status lapses (Regulation 589/2008, Annex II).

The current bird flu is highly infectious, more so than past strains, and may persist for longer than 12 weeks.

1. In the event of loss of status, consumers will be denied the freedom of choice to continue to opt specifically for eggs from hens which, for the greater part of year, as soon as it is safe to their health, have access to free-range facilities, for which animal welfare investments have been made that entail financial commitments throughout the year. Have today's consumers of free-range eggs been asked whether they wish to surrender or retain the above freedom of choice if laying hens are compelled to stay indoors for longer than 12 weeks on account of a risk of infection? If so, in what survey?

2. Will the Commission amend the trading standards dating from 2008 so that, where veterinary restrictions apply because of bird flu, free-range status is not lost after 12 weeks, and when could such an amendment be implemented? It should be borne in mind in this context that loss of status not only has consequences for producers of free-range eggs but would also distort the market for barn eggs and undermine investment in free-range facilities.