What does "free range" on an egg or poultry meat product mean? and why
is Jill Bowis of Kintaline Mill Farm, Benderloch OBAN Argyll still
claiming free range status on some of her 100+ websites of riddle and
intrigue that would put many a money launderer to shame. Despite being
forced off the *Free Range* register! That's an offence in itself and
Trading Standards will be informed.
"Free range", on an egg or poultrymeat product, is a Special Marketing
Term (SMT) indicating that the product has been produced in compliance
with the criteria set-out in the respective marketing regulations. The
criteria for both eggs and poultrymeat are shown below.
Poultrymeat production
Stocking rate in the house is as follows:
Chickens = 13 birds but not more than 27.5 kg liveweight per mē;
Ducks, guinea fowl, turkeys = 25 kg liveweight per mē;
Geese = 15 kg liveweight per mē; Age at slaughter = 112 days or later
Age at slaughter must be:
Chickens = 56 days or later
Turkeys = 70 days or later
Muscovy ducks = 70 days or later for females, 84 days or later for
males
Peking ducks = 49 days or later
Female mulard ducks = 65 days or later
Geese = 112 days or later
Guinea fowl = 82 days or later
In addition, the birds have had during at least half their lifetime
continuous daytime access to open-air runs, comprising an area mainly
covered by vegetation, of not less than:
1mē per chicken or guinea fowl (in the case of guinea fowls, open-air
runs may be replaced by a perchery having a floor space of at least
that of the house and a height of at least 2m, with perches of at
least 10 cm length available per bird in total (house and perchery)).
2mē per duck
4mē per turkey or goose
The feed formula used in the fattening stage contains at least 70% of
cereals, and the poultry house must also be provided with pop holes of
a combined length at least equal to 4 m per 100mē floor space of the
house.
The term "Free Range" is a special marketing term under EU
regulations. These regulations lay down specific husbandry
requirements and stocking thresholds for producers of poultry.
There is a significant wholesale price premium for Free Range birds
when compared to standard poultry.
The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and the Food Safety Act contains
provisions to protect the public from goods being described
incorrectly in the course of business.
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