Government slammed over ‘postcode lottery’ bird flu restrictions

The recent outbreak at a broiler farm near Redgrave, mid-Suffolk, which was not in an HRA, was ‘proof there was little science available’ to accurately pinpoint where HRAs should be, Mr Gooch said.

Free-range egg producer Peter Brown runs his flock of 44,000 birds only 700 metres from a farm which is classified as being in an HRA near Bury St Edmunds.

He said either the whole country should be made to keep birds housed or ‘none at all’.

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“The outbreak in Suffolk was only 23 miles from us and proves birds do not respect circles on maps,” he said.

“If we choose to keep our birds housed outside of an HRA we are certain to lose free-range status, with some retailers cutting prices to equal barn-reared which would mean a 30p loss per dozen.”

In response to a BFREPA call on Defra to ‘review its position and change the policy’, a spokesman said: “Effective disease control will always be our priority.

“We believe mandatory biosecurity across England, combined with targeted housing or range netting in HRAs, is the best option to control disease, protect birds' welfare and ensure consumers can buy free-range products.”

To find out if your farm is affected by a Higher Risk Area, click here.