Overview
- Silvio Erkens, who set out the policy in a letter to Parliament on Friday, is drafting rules to require vaccination across all laying-hen farms and aims to present a plan by the end of the year.
- Wageningen University & Research reported that vaccinated flocks in the 2025 pilot faced fewer outbreaks and, when infections did occur, fewer birds became sick.
- Key non‑EU buyers including the United States and Canada signaled they do not expect to block imports if vaccination and trade follow agreed protocols, which reduces export risk for a sector that ships about two thirds of its eggs abroad.
- A fresh case in Biddinghuizen led authorities to cull about 55,000 hens and impose a 10‑kilometer transport ban with local housing rules, while the food safety agency investigates possible risk contacts.
- Farmers hit by culls receive payouts from a sector fund financed by a mandatory levy, and the levy is expected to rise this year after many winter outbreaks.