Bird Flu Biosecurity Drive in EU: Egg Ingredient Supply at Risk

Brussels, Belgium — 23 September 2026

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission (EC) have launched an intensified '#NoBirdFlu' biosecurity campaign, targeting farm-level prevention as the autumn bird migration season heightens avian influenza risks. This proactive measure aims to safeguard the stability of poultry and egg ingredient supply chains across the European Union. Previous H5N1 outbreaks have demonstrated significant disruptive potential, prompting increased industry focus on supply chain resilience for animal-derived ingredients.

Egg products are critical functional ingredients within the EU's food manufacturing sector, integral to bakery, sauces, and confectionery applications. The region's 350 million laying hens produce approximately 6.7 million metric tonnes of eggs annually. Alessandro Broglia, EFSA's Senior Scientific Officer for Biological Hazards, highlights that robust biosecurity is the most effective tool to prevent H5N1 entry and spread on farms, particularly targeting smaller farms and backyard poultry keepers identified as potentially less aware of risks.

The joint campaign promotes five key biosecurity measures: preventing contact between poultry and wild birds, controlling farm access, maintaining rigorous cleaning and disinfection routines, separating poultry species, and ensuring early detection of disease signs. The EFSA provides an extensive toolkit, available in all EU languages, with practical resources to support implementation across all farm sizes.

The heightened focus mirrors concerns in the US, where the government allocated US$1 billion to combat H5N1 last year, contributing to a 65% rise in US egg prices per dozen by December 2024. In Europe, nearly 8,000 avian influenza outbreaks were recorded between October 2025 and June 2026. While EFSA does not directly assess commercial supply chains, Broglia advises manufacturers to monitor veterinary and public health authorities for epidemiological updates. He also urges companies operating or contracting poultry farms to enforce stringent biosecurity practices throughout their supply chains.

Manufacturers are concurrently exploring formulation strategies to diversify ingredient sourcing and reduce reliance on conventional egg products. Innovations in plant-based, fermentation-derived, and other protein-based alternatives are gaining traction, replicating emulsification and foaming properties essential for various applications. This reduces exposure to price volatility and supply disruptions inherent with animal-derived commodities.

What this means for United Kingdom

UK supplement manufacturers reliant on egg-derived ingredients must immediately assess their supply chain vulnerabilities. With 8,000 EU outbreaks reported by June 2026, potential import disruptions and price hikes are imminent, mirroring the 65% US price increase. Reformulation windows for new product development must accelerate to integrate alternative protein sources, such as pea or fava bean, by early 2027 to maintain product continuity and cost control. Procurement teams should diversify supplier bases to include non-EU sources where biosecurity protocols are rigorously enforced, or investigate domestic egg product manufacturers for reduced lead times and supply assurance. Compliance teams must also monitor potential changes in import requirements or veterinary checks.

This trend is being actively addressed by UK manufacturing partners including Supplement Factory.