A closer relationship with the EU is in the pipeline, the farming minister has told the poultry industry, as he praised the industry’s contribution to the UK food system.
“You make an important contribution to the nation’s food security, economic growth, healthy diets, and the resilience of our food system,” he said, speaking at the 59th Egg and Poultry Industry Conference (EPIC) on 2 November.
Turning to international trade, the minister said the EU remained the UK’s largest trading partner and that negotiations on a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement would continue ahead of the UK-EU summit on 20 November.
The agreement aimed to reduce barriers to agrifood trade while maintaining standards on animal health, biosecurity and public health.
“International markets are vital to the success of the UK poultry sector,” he said. “They help processors achieve carcass balance, while our world-leading breeding stock underpins poultry production across the globe.”
He highlighted recent export progress, including South Africa lifting its longstanding avian influenza restrictions on UK poultry and UK eggs appearing on supermarket shelves in the UAE for the first time this summer.
However, he warned that avian influenza remained a serious challenge, with the risk of incursions increasing as migratory waterfowl returned for winter.
The first case of the 2026/27 season was confirmed in Scotland on 2 October, followed by the first case in England.
“I urge you all to act now and review your biosecurity arrangements,” he said. “Stringent biosecurity remains the best defence to protecting the health and welfare of birds, and reducing the risk of avian influenza entering kept bird populations.”
Morgan encouraged poultry keepers in England to make use of the government’s poultry biosecurity review, which includes a veterinary visit, written report and tailored recommendations to help strengthen on-farm measures.
The review is part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, with funding available through the Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Fund.
Concluding, Morgan said the government would continue working with industry to build a productive and resilient sector.
“You have shown tremendous resilience in the face of considerable challenges, and I am confident that the same determination and ingenuity will help us seize the opportunities for the future,” he said.
“Food security is national security,” he said.
The minister did not take questions.