Poultry Council Report July 2026

Market Report

The IFA Poultry Committee continues to prioritise the protection of poultry farmers’ margins across all production systems. Input costs remain elevated and with labour costs continuing to rise across farms, processing plants and egg-packing facilities, the sector remains under pressure on both the farm and processing levels.

Concerns around disease risk and management remain a critical issue for the sector. Outbreaks of Newcastle disease across Europe over the last 18 months were highlighted at a recent Poultry Ireland Group meeting, however, it’s believed there is appropriate vaccination here in Ireland to protect against the predominant genotype. Avian influenza looms, however, the level of instances have been kept to a minimum, highlighting the effective efforts in management which is testament to the sector. 

The Committee continues its engagement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) seeking the establishment of a national disease support framework for the poultry sector. For farmers who are inside those zones for instance during a HPAI positive case and cannot be restocked, there is no support presently available for those farmers, which can potentially be very damaging. This is a key ask in the IFA Poultry pre-budget 2027 submission.  

Market demand for both chicken meat and eggs remain strong, with supply constraints evident at times at retail level. The Committee’s continued engagement with packers and retailers in an effort to secure a price increase for egg producers has been successful, achieving increases of 15c per dozen on free-range eggs and 12c per dozen on barn and enriched cage eggs. The IFA has lobbied on this matter for some time and are pleased by the outcome achieved for farmers.

Newly established IFA Poultry committee branch with duck producers work is ongoing. Duck producers and Silver Hill met in person and discussed the new payment package on the 21^st of May, but further discussions are required to develop a solution workable for all parties.

Activity since last National Council

• Committee members sit on the Bord Bia Technical Advisory Committee for poultry and eggs, representing farmer interests. Pilot audits have been started but since delayed.
• Continued collaboration with Teagasc, with upcoming meetings scheduled with Professor Frank O’Meara to request additional sector funding for research and enhanced services.
• Continuous dialogue with processors and egg packers on pricing and other sectoral matters.
• Engagement with the Department, AHI, EPA, IEA, MII, Campylobacter Forum, and Bord Bia.
• Duck growers met with Silver Hill to discuss payment package on the 21^st of May.
• Western Brand producer meetings took place on the 28^th of May, and the 14^th of July.
• Campylobacter Stakeholder Group meeting took place on the 18^th of June in Backweston.
• Poultry Ireland Group meeting on the 23^rd of June in Mullingar Park Hotel.
• IFA Poultry Committee Meeting on the 17^th of June .
• IFA attended meeting with egg retailers .

EU/COPA Developments

• The development of the position papers for the welfare of laying hens is currently being lobbied on by the WP for Poultry. 
• Engagement with Copa-Cogeca and the Commission continues regarding implementation of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) to ensure a simplified approach. 
• The European Food Safety Authority has issued welfare recommendations for poultry transport. The Commission plans to update this legislation, and we are working with DAFM and Copa-Cogeca on this issue.

Article 55

Amending and correcting Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases

The proposed amendment lifting of zones will present a significant timeline discrepancy when compared with current practices. 

Litter management/treatment will have major bearing on timelines of zone removal.

The aim of the zone implementation is to reduce risk of the spread of disease; however, it is clearly documented that there is significant reservoir within wild bird populations which will not be reduced by these measures. 

Farmers believe it’s an overcautious approach that will have major implications on restocking, which will have massive knock-on effects over the whole industry. 

Litter is the primary challenge in this change and developments are necessary here. (Heat treatment solutions, and further examples, in discussion among groups).

Upcoming Issues

• Ongoing retail engagement to address persistent cost pressures and margin sustainability.
• Securing DAFM support for a structured national disease support mechanism for the               poultry sector.
• Monitoring implementation and impact of biosecurity regulations and Avian Influenza               developments.
• Article 55 
• Campylobacter cases and control.