Ireland could be last country with free range eggs

Ireland could be the last country in the EU with free range eggs available, if poultry confinement due to the bird flu threat continues.

This week, egg farmers and packers across the EU were hoping for an extension to EU rules to allow eggs still be classed as free-range , despite poultry being confined indoors by bird flu housing orders.

To control the spread of bird flu, most European countries have ordered poultry to be kept indoors. And EU regulations state that free range poultry kept indoors under Government controls can keep their free-range status for no more than 12 weeks.