Bird flu: Free range eggs no longer available in UK

Free range eggs are no longer available in the UK due to the continuing housing order in place since November 2021 as a result of the bird flu outbreak.

The mandatory housing measures, which were rolled out on 29 November 2021, were not lifted on Monday (21 March).

From this date, the 16-week grace period that was in place for the marketing of free range eggs ended.

This means that eggs from hens temporarily housed in barns for their welfare can no longer be marketed as free range.

Instead, eggs sold in retailers now have a sticker or label on the packing describing them as 'barn eggs'.