Written Statement (Wales): The Laying of the Free-Range Egg Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 - Jan 28

Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change & Rural Affairs: Today, I have laid a draft of the Free-Range Egg Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 before the Senedd.

Subject to the approval of the Senedd, these Regulations will amend Commission Regulation (EC) 589/2008 to remove the current 16-week derogation which applies to the marketing of free-range eggs in Wales. 

Under the current regulations, if the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales implements mandatory housing measures, then free-range eggs may be marketed and sold for up to 16 weeks without changes to labels on the egg products or packaging. After this period has lapsed, any eggs produced cannot be marketed as ‘free-range'. 

The amending regulation will remove the current timings to allow eggs to continue to be marketed as ‘free range' for the duration of any mandatory housing period. These measures are implemented to protect public or animal health are imposed. This will ensure that Welsh egg producers are at a level trading position to their UK and EU counterparts when complying with mandatory housing measures mandated by the Chief Veterinary Officers guidance. 

I look forward to the debate on the Regulations in February.