France: Ongoing HPAI Outbreaks Threaten the Future of France Egg and Poultry Industry

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks have already led to the culling of 15 million poultry birds in France (approximately 5 percent of the total poultry flock). Dozens of new cases are being discovered every day. The new variant of the HPAI H5N1 virus appears to be highly transmissible and is spreading rapidly through reproductive flocks of broilers, ducks and egg laying hens. French poultry producers are already under significant stress due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Rising production costs, not least for feed grain and energy, are threatening the future competitiveness of France’s egg and poultry industry. Imports now account for more than 50 percent of France’s total chicken meat consumption.