The Netherlands has become the first EU country to vaccinate chickens against bird flu while allowing their eggs to be sold.
This vaccination trial is currently limited to one farm and will run until early 2027. If successful, it may be expanded to other farms, Agriculture Minister Femke Wiersma announced on Monday.
The chicks receive the vaccine shortly after they are born. They are then raised and sent to a laying farm. The location of the trial has not been disclosed for privacy reasons.
The eggs from these vaccinated chickens will only be sold in the Netherlands to avoid complications in international trade.
Not all EU countries allow the sale of eggs from vaccinated chickens. Since the Netherlands exports many chicken products, some countries might stop buying eggs, meat, or chicks if vaccination becomes common.
This trial will also determine how other countries respond.
Vaccinated chickens
Previous studies by Wageningen University & Research showed that vaccinated chickens are protected against bird flu for a long time and spread fewer virus particles. For large-scale vaccination, further research is needed.
If bird flu is detected on or near a farm, all chickens are immediately killed. The last outbreak in the Netherlands was in February when 37,000 laying hens were killed in Friesland.
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