Committee
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee 24 September 2025
24 Sep 2025 · S6 · Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [Draft]
It sounds as though it is a guideline rather than a requirement to look after those animals, but I am grateful that you understand that a shift in conditions could be shocking to sentient beings.
I have another big picture question. The housing order had to be issued because of avian flu, but we also have zoonotic diseases. The international scientific task force on avian influenza said that a
“reassessment of the nature and sustainability of poultry production systems is required.”
I know that the SSI will be enacted to handle a symptom, but what is the Government doing and what is happening in the UK to look at what we can do to address avian flu at a deeper level? How do we tackle zoonotic diseases?
In the same item of business
The Convener (Finlay Carson)
Con
Good morning, and welcome to the 26th meeting in 2025 of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. Before we begin, I ask members to please ensure that all el...
The Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
Thank you, convener, and good morning. Thank you for inviting me to speak to the draft Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Reg...
The Convener
Con
Thank you very much, minister. I call Rhoda Grant.
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
We welcome the instrument, as it could encourage free-range breeding in Scotland. However, how will you ensure that chickens that are not bred as free range ...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
Those birds would not already have free-range status; under this instrument, the birds would already need to have that status. This only works when a housing...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
So, if someone applied for such status when a derogation was in place, there would be checks and balances to ensure that the chickens in question would, unde...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
Even if a housing order were in place, they would not be able to apply for free-range status unless they had all the other things in place that they would ne...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Okay, and checks will be made at that point.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
Yes.
The Convener
Con
I call Tim Eagle.
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I hope that you can hear me. Apologies that I cannot be there this morning quite yet. Minister, I welcome this; it is brilliant. I take your point that it i...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I agree. I seem to remember that we had a similar conversation when we were talking about the derogation for eggs, so we had a discussion before I came to co...
Tim Eagle
Con
That is fine, minister.
The Convener
Con
I have a follow-up question. With egg marketing, were you aware of any issues with supermarkets not making it clear to consumers that free-range eggs could n...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
No. Joe Kirk and I were discussing that just before we came in. In the early days—Joe will correct me if I am wrong—officials went out to see what supermarke...
The Convener
Con
Other supermarkets are available.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
Other supermarkets are available.
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I have a couple of questions. We do not have any free-range producers at the moment, but if we were to have them, have you given any consideration to introdu...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I have not given any consideration to that on the basis that we do not have anyone in this country right now who is doing free-range poultry meat. There migh...
Joe Kirk (Scottish Government)
You are absolutely right—while a housing order is in place, when birds have been used to getting free-range access, there is always a concern that denying th...
Ariane Burgess
Green
It sounds as though it is a guideline rather than a requirement to look after those animals, but I am grateful that you understand that a shift in conditions...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I am not sure how we tackle zoonotic diseases in a transient wild bird population. There needs to be an understanding that we have transient and migratory bi...
Ariane Burgess
Green
I think that is worth looking at the food system.
The Convener
Con
I am sorry, Ariane, but we are moving off topic. I do not think that it is fair to ask the minister questions about the broader implications of avian flu.
Ariane Burgess
Green
I will take it up with him directly.
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
If we are looking at labelling for supermarkets, will the SSI have any impact on restaurants, supply chains and chain restaurants?
Jim Fairlie
SNP
The same principle will apply. If someone wants to market their product as free range because that suits their business model and it is the kind of model tha...
The Convener
Con
The minister has suggested that there is no free-range meat production in Scotland at the moment, but you referred to the work that was done on free-range eg...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I am sorry, convener, but I am being a bit dense. I do not understand the question.
The Convener
Con
Let us say that I had a farm and my chickens were generally outside, but the housing that I had for them was far from adequate—maybe I had only a few sheds, ...