Officials working to keep egg stocks maintained in Scotland after avian flu hits major supplier
Biosecurity measures are in place to prevent further spread.
Scottish Government officials said they are working to ensure egg supplies are maintained across Scotland after the country’s largest producer was hit by bird flu for a third time.
Hundreds of thousands of hens are believed to have been culled across Glenrath Farms premises in the Penicuik area, just south of Edinburgh, after a particularly fatal strain of avian flu spread in the area.
The company is known to supply most of the main supermarkets in the UK.
The latest outbreak was reported at the company’s Easter Deans and Blairburn in West Linton in the Borders earlier this week.
A 1.8 mile (3km) protection zone and a 10 km (6.6 mile) surveillance zone have been established around the site.
It comes after two other farms owned by Glenrath were affected by the fast-spreading disease.
Other smaller egg producers in the Borders and Midlothian areas have also been impacted by the “highly pathogenic” strain in the last month.
The Scottish Government said the outbreak of avian flu will have an impact on local producers in the affected area.
Officials said they are working with poultry farmers, including affected farms, to minimise the possibility of new infections through the best possible biosecurity.
Current advice says because of strict biosecurity measures to ensure eggs and poultry remain safe for consumers, the risk to those with intensive exposure to infected birds is low.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Whilst our first consideration is always animal welfare and human health protection, we are also working with industry to ensure egg supplies are maintained.”
While Glenrath, which produces over a million eggs a day across its network of farms, has taken a hit with hundreds of thousands of chickens killed, industry leaders say egg production remains unaffected.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, said: “Any bird flu outbreak is regrettable, and we recognise the significant impact it has had on this producer and the challenges they are facing.
“Safeguarding animal health and welfare remains our top priority, and the response is being handled in strict accordance with established biosecurity and disease-management protocols.
“In terms of supply, the national laying flock is currently in a stronger and more resilient position than it has been for a number of years so we do not anticipate this incident resulting in shortages for consumers.”
The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), which represents the major supermarkets north of the borders, said while avian flu is a concern, grocers are adept at finding alternate sources for stores.
An SRC spokesperson said: “Grocery retailers have become accustomed to a degree of supply chain disruption from Bird Flu and other events in recent years.
“They are adept at dealing with disruptions and have robust supply chains and contingency plans in place which can adapt when required so they can minimise any potential short-term impact on supplies to stores."
The Scottish Government confirmed overall egg supply in Scotland is currently unaffected by the recent outbreak of avian flu.
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