24.07.2025: British Poultry Council welcomes AI Vaccination Taskforce’s new report, but warns of its complexity.

22.07.2025: The OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2025-2034 has been released. Of note is that poultry consumption is set to grow by 21%, and that biosecurity stands as a critical concern.

18.07.2025: Government’s newly announced ‘Good Food Cycle‘ sets out an encouraging vision. Its ten priorities mirror what we set out in 2024 and Beyond, particularly the need to embed food security, climate ambitions, and economic resilience into one joined-up strategy. We welcome their ambition; how it will translate into impact (and deliver for poultry meat businesses) remains to be seen.

14.07.2025: BPC set the record straight on poultry welfare: the Court of Appeal denied The Humane League’s case against Defra, confirming there is no legal ruling against current poultry production practices or the use of conventional breeds. British poultry meat producers operate to high welfare standards, guided by science and regulation, and remain committed to responsible, transparent, and sustainable food production.

27.06.2025: Government launches both a Trade and Industrial Strategy this week. We welcome their publication but acknowledge that co-ordination is not the same as direction. It looks like both papers are avoiding the question of where Government should lead and what it is willing to take responsibility for. We look forward to feeding in to ensure British poultry meat is recognised as a strategic national asset.

24.06.2025: BPC Technical Director, Maire Burnett, attends 11^th International Symposium on Avian Influenza. With 300+ people in attendance, Maire, plus the UK CVO and Defra and APHA officials, made up the UK contingent.

20.06.2025: ELPHA celebrates its 10-year anniversary at their General Assembly, the theme being ‘competitiveness in animal welfare, health, and sustainability.’ With negotiations on the UK-EU SPS Agreement set to begin this autumn, BPC involvement is crucial to stay informed about any proposed changes to EU legislation.

04.06.2025: Report from the National Audit Office states that the risk of an animal disease outbreak that Government cannot manage is above acceptable levels – and there isn’t yet a plan to reduce it. We read this as an urgent call to action to build a robust framework for animal health. BPC look forward to working with Government to lay the foundations for meaningful change in this area.

19.05.2025: BPC welcomes Government’s announcement setting out a route to a new SPS framework with the EU. We continue our calls for progress towards a deal that recognises our standards, that reflects the unique nature of UK-EU trade, and supports our long-term food security.

08.05.2025: BPC welcomes news that poultry will not be included in a UK-US trade agreement, a clear signal that Government backs our standards and the values that underpin them.

16.04.2025: As uncertainty grows around a UK-US trade deal, the British Poultry Council urges the Government to stand firm on food standards – or risk eroding decades of trust, investment, and progress.

07.04.2025: IPC’s Annual Meeting marks a historic first. With nearly 250 delegates from over 40 countries joining us in Morocco – IPC’s first conference in Africa – the event saw industry leaders and technical experts take part in debates on some of the biggest issues facing the global industry, including geopolitics, avian influenza, and WOAH’s policy direction on AMR.

09.04.2025: BPC responds to Government’s Land Use consultation, highlighting how the production of poultry meat (and the land it uses) has been excluded from the framework’s definition of agricultural land and consequently, from the core pillars of the framework’s analysis. BPC also note that there are no legally binding targets for food production in the UK.

01.04.2025: Mr Farage’s support for allowing the sale of American chlorine-washed chicken in the UK, arguing that clear labelling should let consumers decide, draws criticism from groups concerned about undermining British farming standards, including EFRA Committee Chair Alistair Carmichael, who accused him of “utter ignorance.” BPC position remains the same: prioritising trade concessions over the very standards that define British production is not up for discussion.

26.03.2025: Spring Statement announced: OBR upgrades growth forecasts for 2026-2029, driven in part by the impact of Labour’s planning reforms.

21.03.2025: Key figures advising the Government on its new food strategy have been announced, alongside the first meeting of a new Ministerial Food Strategy Group set to drive the agenda. The group is chaired by Defra Secretary of State and includes Ministers from Department for Business and Trade, Department of Health and Social Care, Department for Education and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

06.03.2025: The second of BPC’s “What if we…” webinar series, in collaboration with Poultry Business, takes place, exploring food waste as both a symptom and cause of inefficiency. Discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities in tackling food waste, highlighting the importance of productivity through the lens of efficiency and resilience

27.02.2025: WOAH and the FAO have officially approved and released the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza 2024–2033, under the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases.

31.01.2025: Growing media interest around use of vaccination in stamping out avian influenza. BPC position remains unchanged: that AI must not compromise business continuity, that the viability of a potential vaccine must be explored, that we continue to work with Government and APHA to ensure action on infected premises.

15.01.2025: BPC, in partnership with Poultry Business, host first webinar in their “What if we…” series. Webinar 1 focused on the future of land use in poultry production, with speakers tackling the intersection of productivity, land use, and sustainability.

14.01.2025: The APPG on UK Food Security (for which BPC acts as secretariat) kicked off 2025 with a ‘Meet the Producers’ breakfast event, where over 30 MPs met with farmers and food producers across the country. Representatives from the poultry, pig, and egg sectors called for stronger Government-industry collaboration to address economic pressures, trade challenges, and biosecurity risks.

13.12.2024: High Court dismisses an appeal by The Humane League, following its previous dismissal of the group’s claims that the Defra Secretary of State was acting unlawfully in allowing so-called “fast-growing chickens.” The ruling underscores the crucial role industry plays in ensuring food security via responsible practice, and is important acknowledgement for both industry and Government that their expertise is key in the science and application of animal welfare.

11.12.2024: Communications Manager, Kerry Maxwell, features in BBC film on UK turkey production – covering all things avian influenza, seasonal workforce and animal welfare.

05.12.2024: BPC award winners recognised for exceptional contribution to the industry feeding the nation.

04.12.2024: New BPC report, From ‘Bouncing Back’ to ‘Building Forward,’ launches. Building on 2024 and Beyond, our manifesto for change, we highlight the need to bridge aspiration and action. From ‘Bouncing Back’ to ‘Building Forward’ is a call to redefine ‘resilience’ – not as merely enduring adversity but as proactively shaping solutions that create meaningful change.

15.11.2024: Inheritance tax concerns have brought us to a key moment in the debate on British food production. We must strike a balance between necessary tax reform and protecting the farms that underpin our food security and rural communities. A joined-up approach to policy is essential for a sustainable future.

30.10.2024: Autumn Budget announced – and how Government’s ‘growth agenda’ translates to food remains unclear. It is critical that the mandate for growth is matched with a commitment to robust investment that leaves no sector behind.

24.10.2024: Hungry for an industrial strategy…but no one ordered food. Plans for ‘Invest 2035’ are announced and food and drink are notably absent from the list of growth-driving sectors

11.09.2024: BPC establishes APPG for UK Food Security, along with BEIC, NFU and NPA colleagues.