BFREPA Welcomes National Housing Order to Protect UK Egg Sector

Published on : 4 Nov 2025

BFREPA welcomes the decisive action taken by DEFRA

The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA), which has been calling for a UK-wide housing order since 27 October, has now welcomed the announcement by the UK Chief Veterinary Officer that a mandatory housing order will cover the whole of England from 00:01 on Thursday 6 November 2025, following the escalating number of avian influenza (bird flu) cases in both kept and wild birds.

The new measures mean that all bird keepers across England must house their poultry and captive birds if they keep more than 50 (except in specific cases such as certain zoo birds) or if they sell or give away eggs.

BFREPA Response
Gary Ford, BFREPA’s Head of Strategy and Producer Engagement, said:

“We welcome the decisive action taken by DEFRA and the UK Chief Veterinary Officer to extend the housing order across the whole of England. This is the clarity and consistency that producers have been calling for.

A national approach provides stronger protection for free range birds and much-needed reassurance for farmers at this challenging time. We now urge the devolved governments in Wales and Scotland to act swiftly to align with this policy so that all producers across Great Britain can operate under the same protective framework.”

BFREPA continues to work closely with DEFRA, devolved administrations, and industry partners to ensure the welfare of flocks and the sustainability of free range egg production during this period of heightened risk.