February 26, 2013

Germany free-range egg production under investigations

German poultry farms are being investigated by health authorities on suspicion of flouting the rules for free-range egg production.

Prosecutors in the northern city of Oldenburg claim to have evidence that, over a number of years, poultry farmers, including organic producers, had systematically violated rules for the production of free range eggs.

It has now emerged that several farmers kept more animals than permitted, but still sold their eggs for a higher price due to their free range status.

Records show that controls had long been lacking, with health officials often relying solely on written information submitted by the farmers, instead of actual spot-checks on site. About 150 farms in Lower Saxony and 50 more in other German states are now under scrutiny.