An egg association has raised concerns about the potential “long-term consequences” for the UK food manufacturing industry, following the detection of bird flu at a farm in Shropshire, located near the England-Wales border.
The government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed on 20 January that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 “has been confirmed in commercial poultry at a premises near Wem, North Shropshire.”
Griffiths Family Farms, part of Oaklands Farm Eggs, has been identified as the affected farm by the British Free-Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA). This business is recognized as one of the largest egg processors in the UK.
According to Defra and the associated Agency, “All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled.” However, they did not disclose the total number of birds affected by the outbreak, even as some reports indicate the count may exceed one million.
A Defra spokesperson said, “Immediate steps have been taken to limit the risk of disease spread, including the introduction of a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone surrounding the premises. All remaining poultry at the farm have been humanely culled.”
Bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant for signs of the disease, strictly implement biosecurity measures, and promptly report any suspected cases of avian influenza or other notifiable diseases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Defra noted an earlier bird flu detection at an unnamed “free-range layer” facility in November, marking the first case since 14 February of the previous year. A similar case was registered in Scotland on 10 January, with no owner or location specified.
Defra emphasized the importance of strict biosecurity measures, highlighting that the virus remains a circulating threat.
Gary Ford, head of strategy and producer engagement at BFREPA, discussed the outbreak at the Wem farm in a recent statement:
“The outbreak at arguably the country’s biggest laying site has been devastating for the Griffiths family and numerous associated businesses such as feed suppliers, poultry rearers, and hauliers.”
“Our thoughts are with the Griffiths family and their staff. This incident will have far-reaching consequences for the entire industry, especially given that the site at Wem processes approximately half of the UK’s barn egg production.”
Founded in 1955 as a family business, Griffiths remains committed to high-quality production. “We produce millions of eggs each year, all meeting the strict standards laid down by the Lion Code of Practice. This mark guarantees that the eggs have been produced to the highest standards of food safety in the world,” the company affirms on its website.
Defra’s latest update stated that while the Wem farm is in England, part of the surveillance zone extends into the Wrexham local authority area of Wales. There have been no confirmed cases of HPAI reported in Wales during this current outbreak. However, according to World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) regulations, Great Britain is no longer considered free from highly pathogenic avian influenza.
“No cases of HPAI have been confirmed in Northern Ireland this season, and Northern Ireland continues to maintain its WOAH self-declared zonal freedom from highly pathogenic avian influenza.”
