Avian influenza vaccination not noted on egg packaging

Starting in August, the first eggs from layers vaccinated with an avian influenza vaccine will be sold in Dutch supermarkets. The first birds would’ve received their shots in a pilot trial that began in the spring of 2025. Consumers will not be made aware of which eggs come from vaccinated birds.

Dutch minister of agriculture Femke Wiersma is not planning to include any mandatory indication on the packaging of poultry products as to whether they originate from birds that have been vaccinated against avian influenza. She wrote this in response to questions in parliament.

Dutch MP disagrees

MP Gideon van Meijeren believes that consumers should be well informed and, in the interests of freedom of choice, explicitly provided with information regarding vaccination. The minister of agriculture replied that for many years it has been standard practice to vaccinate animals against a variety of diseases, using similar vaccines to the one currently employed in the pilot against avian influenza. In general, without specifying which vaccines have been applied, information is provided on food derived from vaccinated animals, she stated.

The vaccine in the avian influenza trial, Innovax ND-AI, has been evaluated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and authorised by the European Commission for use in chickens. Wiersma said: “This vaccine has been assessed by the EMA for efficacy and safety for animals, humans and the environment. This also applies to the products from vaccinated females, namely eggs and meat.”

A continuing debate

MP Van Meijeren is highly critical of the vaccination. He argued that it creates a false sense of security because the animals can still become infected and spread the virus. Wiersma, however, did not agree. She acknowledged that vaccinated animals can be infected but pointed out that scientific research demonstrates that vaccinated animals are considerably less contagious, thus slowing the spread of infection. Furthermore, an intensive surveillance programme is in place to quickly detect any infections.

Marketability of poultry products

Wiersma is aware that vaccination against avian influenza may pose a risk to the marketability of Dutch poultry products on the international market. The ministry is actively working on enhancing market access of these products. She added that France is also vaccinating against highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Wiersma stated: “The import restrictions that the United States and Canada had imposed on the meat of non-vaccinated poultry have now been partially lifted.”