Free-range eggs could soon return to supermarket shelves after the four month ban is said to have been lifted.
The temporary halt saw birds in some parts of the country being kept inside with the ban having come into force in November 2021 after poultry farmers discovered that they would have to cull up to one million birds due to the outbreak of the fast-spreading H5N1, also known as bird flu.
According to the Mirror, farmers were ordered to keep all of their birds indoors to prevent the spread of avian influenza during the outbreak.
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Due to the ban, widespread shortages of free-range eggs were said to have been recorded as a result of chicken farms producing the eggs being unable to legally say that their birds had been allowed to range freely.
Though these restrictions have now been lifted by the UK Health Security Agency, measures are still in place to prevent the transmission of bird flu, including a ban on poultry markets and restricting public access to poultry farms.
The BBC have said that "from Monday hens are allowed back outside meaning free-range labelling can return to shelves.".
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: "Whilst the lifting of the mandatory housing measures will be welcome news to bird keepers, scrupulous biosecurity remains the most critical form of defence to help keep your birds safe.
"It is thanks to the hard work of all bird keepers and vets, who have played their part in keeping flocks safe this winter, that we are in a position to take this action.
"However, the recent cases of avian influenza show that it’s vital that bird keepers remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent standards of biosecurity."
Paddy Bourns, owner of the luxury Cotswolds 'Cacklebean Eggs', a supplier to top restaurants around the country, said supermarket customers could see their free-range eggs return to shelves as soon as this week with producers allowed to start labelling their eggs as "free-range" the instant they are let out of a barn.
Paddy explained: "When the birds are inside it is harder to care for and look after them, so I'm sure lots of farmers are happier now that their chickens have a better area to roam around in.
"My whole family got up yesterday to let the birds out at 6.30am, it has been a long time for these birds, so the first few were cautious and had to lead the way for the rest of the flock.
"Just like us humans, when we were in lockdown and had to stay indoors, it was a big moment for the chickens to come outside at last. We breed birds here so, for some of them, it was their first experience of the outdoors."
Paddy's advice to consumers wondering how free-range their eggs might be is: "Research it, look into it, it doesn't take five minutes to google where the eggs come from. If all you can see is a big shed, it's probably not very free-range."
What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
Bird flu is a form of influenza that has the capacity to affect humans.
According to the NHS, bird flu can spread to humans by touching infected birds, dropping, bedding or killing or cooking infected birds.
If you do suspect you might have bird flu, the NHS says that the common symptoms include:
- A very high temperature or feeling hot or shivery
- Aching muscles
- Headache
- A cough or shortness of breath
These symptoms can often come on very quickly and are not the only ones associated with the virus. Other symptoms associated with it are:
- Diarrhoea
- Sickness
- Stomach pain
- Chest pain
- Bleeding from the nose and gums
- Conjunctivitis
How is bird flu transmitted?
Cases of bird flu in humans tend to only occur in very close contact with specific animals such as birds and horses, and this has only happened with certain strains of the virus.
According to the NHS , there are three main ways the virus can jump over to humans. They are:
- Touching infected birds
- Touching droppings or bedding
- Killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking
