The Russian Agricultural Ministry has put forward a proposal to prohibit free-range poultry, citing concerns over infectious diseases that could threaten industrial farms. This move is expected to have significant repercussions on thousands of backyard farms and the organic poultry segment.
Under the proposed veterinary regulations, free-range poultry will be banned effective from 1st March 2025. Executives from the Russian poultry industry have expressed support for this measure.
Vladimir Fisinin, president of the Russian Poultry Union, stated to local publication Veterinary & Life that the ban is necessary for the biological safety of the Russian poultry industry. He emphasized that free-range poultry, by coming into contact with wild animals, poses a risk to the production process.
The rise in avian influenza is cited as a primary concern. Julia Melano, an advisor to the head of the Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselhoznadzor, highlighted the rapid spread of avian influenza in Europe, where cage-free bird keeping is practiced. This, she stated, results in contact between farm poultry and wild birds, leading to infections within flocks.
According to Rosselhoznadzor, Europe has recorded 412 highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks since the beginning of 2024.
Concerns have been raised about the impact of the ban on small independent and backyard farms, which could suffer significant economic losses. The Russian state statistical service Rosstat reported in 2023 that independent farms contribute to 15% of broiler meat and 18% of egg production in Russia.
Producers of organic products fear that the ban on free-range poultry could stall the development of the segment, affecting the availability of organic products in the market. The Russian Union of Organic Farming highlighted that state standards for organic poultry production require free-ranging, which could be compromised by the ban.
Fisinin, however, argued that organic production will still be possible, emphasizing the importance of bird nutrition based on chemical-free grain. Nevertheless, concerns remain among manufacturers about the feasibility of meeting organic standards under the new regulations.
While the organic poultry segment has seen growth in recent years, it remains relatively small in Russia.
