A Nottinghamshire farmer is warning free range eggs could start disappearing from shelves as Government restrictions linked to bird flu continue.
Most farm birds have had to be kept inside December on official orders to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
A temporary label is now being placed on some egg cartons to warn costumers of the change as European Union rules prohibit birds kept indoors for more than 12 weeks to be marketed as free range.
Anthony Moore, from White Post Farm in Nottinghamshire, which sells eggs from hens on the farm, said: “It is going to be hard to find free range eggs for a while and we may have to settle for some alternatives but in the end it is all for the greater good.
“All our chickens are being kept in a large covered space to keep them from being affected by wild birds.”
The current strain of bird flu does not pose a risk to people but is highly contagious and often fatal for poultry.
Since the initial order to keep poultry indoors the deadline has been extended twice and could be extended again tomorrow.
It will then have been 12 weeks since the initial ban, meaning that no British eggs can be officially classed as free range unless something else is announced.
“We find out tomorrow if the deadline is extended again and I think it could be, it is difficult for us but even worse for the big breeding farms who are probably very twitchy about tomorrow’s news,” added Anthony.
“If one bird is affected it could wipe out all of them and that is the worst case scenario for a farmer, and we are sharing ideas with other farmers to keep the chickens as free range as possible.”
The Government confirmed plans to reduce the risk of avian flu after February 28 by asking farmers to continue to observe strict bio-security measures, with housing or netting required in higher risk areas.
Chief Veterinary Officer, Nigel Gibben said: “Based on clear scientific evidence, the risk from wild birds is too high in some areas of England to rely on biosecurity measures alone.
“That’s why we are requiring birds in Higher Risk Areas to be housed or protected from wild bird contact by netting.
“We believe this is the best approach to control disease, protect birds’ welfare and ensure consumers can buy free range products.”
