September 3 2024
Introduction
At St Ewe Free Range Eggs, we’re committed to providing our customers with the highest quality eggs while upholding the welfare standards that define our brand. We understand how important it is for you to know that the eggs you enjoy come from well-cared-for, free-range hens. That’s why we want to share some exciting news that will positively impact both our sector and your experience as a valued customer.
What’s Happening?
You might have heard about the rules that say when our girls have to be kept indoors (because of bird flu), we can only call their eggs “free-range” for 16 weeks. After that, the eggs have to be labelled as “barn eggs,” which can be a little confusing, right?
But here’s the good news – the UK government has just announced that this is going to change!
“We understand the pressures facing the egg-producing sector and the crippling impact that avian influenza outbreaks can have on their businesses,” said Daniel Zeichner, food security and rural affairs minister. “Removing the need to change labels on eggs and packaging will help them keep costs down and remain competitive.
What Does This Mean for You?
Later this year, they’re introducing a new rule that means we can keep calling our eggs “free-range” throughout any period where our hens need to stay indoors for their safety, no matter how long it lasts.
This means no more confusing label changes! You’ll still get the same St. Ewe free-range eggs you know and love, with the same care and quality, even if our beloved girls do need to take a little indoor break for their own health. This change helps us keep things simple and clear, so you can feel confident about what’s in your egg box.
Why This Matters
We know you care about where your food comes from and how it’s produced. At St Ewe, we’re all about transparency and making sure our hens are treated with the best care, whether they’re outside roaming the fields or inside staying safe from any health risks.
The new labelling is to ensure that free-range hens, which are housed at a lower stocking density than barn hens, are labelled fairly as the cost of production is considerably higher for free-range. The new rules mean that farmers will continue to receive a fair price for their free-range eggs whilst under a mandatory housing order.
This new rule ultimately means we can keep focusing on what matters most – bringing you delicious, high-quality eggs straight from our fantastic partner farms across the UK.
Responding to the news, NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead said he was “pleased” to see that the amends would be made, adding that the removal of the 16-week derogation period forms one of the NFU’s four key asks on AI policy, dating back to October 2022.
“It’s great to see that, during stressful times for poultry producers, any additional burden will now be minimised. This includes practical challenges and the excess costs associated with the previously required labelling changes,” he said.
What’s Next?
While there’s no bird flu affecting UK farms right now, we’re always staying vigilant with strict biosecurity measures to keep our hens safe and healthy. Plus, there’s a new £2.3m research project underway, led by the Animal & Plant Health Agency, to learn more about bird flu, which will help protect both wild birds and farm animals in the future.
Thanks for Being Part of Our Journey!
We’re really happy about this positive change and hope it makes things easier and clearer for you too. As always, we’re grateful for your support and will continue to keep you updated on sector news as it evolves.
You can read more about the changes made to egg labelling online at The Grocer or the NFU.