The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) has voiced growing concern over a sharp rise in cases of High Pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) across Great Britain, warning that the outbreak poses a serious threat to the UK’s poultry sector.
BFREPA spokesman Gary Ford said the situation was “distressing for the families involved and concerning news for the UK poultry sector, particularly for those poultry businesses in the immediate area of the outbreak.”
In light of the escalating situation and the increasing risk of disease transmission, BFREPA is calling for a housing order to be implemented across Great Britain. Ford said that while housing measures alone cannot eliminate the risk, “they are a critical step in reducing exposure and limiting the spread of this aggressive disease.”
The association has urged all poultry producers to maintain the highest standards of biosecurity and to report any suspicions of disease immediately. “These actions, combined with housing measures, will be pivotal in containing and ultimately eliminating this outbreak,” Ford said.
BFREPA confirmed that it is working closely with Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to support free-range poultry farmers through the outbreak. “The welfare of our flocks and the livelihoods and mental wellbeing of those who care for them remain our top priority,” Ford added.