Eggs: removing the 16 week derogation period in egg marketing standards
Seeking views on government proposals to remove the 16 week derogation period in egg marketing standards legislation in England and Scotland.
We want to know what you think about the government’s proposal to remove the 16 week derogation period in egg marketing standards. This is the maximum amount of time allowed for hens to be kept indoors during periods of mandatory housing orders and the eggs they lay still being able to be labelled as ‘free range’.
These housing orders are put in place to help stop the spread of the bird flu.
Currently if poultry is housed for longer than 16 weeks, the eggs must be labelled as ‘barn’ rather than ‘free range’. The proposed removal of the derogation limit would mean eggs can be labelled as ‘free range’ no matter how long poultry have been housed indoors.