By Aimee Mahony, NFU chief poultry adviser
As I write this latest column the week is drawing to a close and in the space of just a few days a lot has happened which will impact the poultry sector both now and in the future. Meetings to discuss the next steps for assurance scheme standards, a government announcement on access to the seasonal workers scheme for 2025 and a court case centred on broiler welfare to name only a few things that have taken place this week!
Also, this week twelve enthusiastic and knowledgeable young people arrived at NFU HQ for the first time as they got stuck in with getting to know each other as part of this year’s Poultry Industry Programme (PIP). On the second day of the programme which is now in its 12th year, participants pushed themselves outside of their comfort zones with media training, practicing both pre-recorded and live interviews for radio and TV – listen out for them on the airwaves soon championing UK poultry production.
During the launch event group members discussed the challenges and opportunities facing the sector and it was perhaps not surprising due to recent times that they soon racked up a list of challenges between them. Access to labour, the threat of activism, difficulties with planning permission, avian influenza and competition from imported products were all listed as challenges, but it was good to see the group also explore the opportunities available. This included demand for poultry products, a new approach to contracts, production system changes, training, renewable energy and networking opportunities. It was a delight when completely unprompted one of the breakout groups listed the PIP itself as an opportunity for the next generation to make a difference and I left reassured that these fantastic ambassadors for the poultry sector would all make the most of the twelve months ahead as they complete the various programme events.
Monday was a busy day with the first real announcement to affect the poultry sector being made since the new government came into power with a response to our longstanding ask for a review of the egg and poultry meat marketing standards. Although the government had previously confirmed they would be removing the 16-week grace period for free range labelling when hens are housed due to avian influenza, it is good to finally have the actual date for this legislative change. By the new year producers in England will no longer have to label eggs as barn once 16 weeks has passed during mandatory housing measures. The NFU’s ask has always been for this policy to be GB-aligned and our understanding is that a similar change will be made by the Scottish Government shortly with the Welsh Government finalising feedback from their recent consultation before deciding their next steps which we hope to hear about in the near future.
Alongside this news for egg producers, it is also good to see that Defra have listened to our feedback by launching a consultation on poultry meat marketing regulations. This includes proposing the removal of the current restrictions which mean that free range poultry can only be labelled as such for 12 weeks after the introduction of housing measures, and the removal of the need for optional indicator certificates to accompany imported poultry meat. The consultation is open for eight weeks and I encourage you to respond via the gov.uk website to ensure the outcome is favourable to poultry meat producers.
We are on the cusp of the autumn budget and the stakes are high which I’m sure will prompt points for discussion at the upcoming Egg and Poultry Industry Conference (EPIC). There is a great lineup of speakers and the conference presents a valuable opportunity to network and engage. If you are attending this year then I look forward to seeing you there.