'Forged test results pose an unacceptable risk to public health,' said Aled Edwards, who leads England field delivery at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), after a Devon poultry keeper was sentenced for falsifying salmonella tests. The government confirmed the outcome in a notice published on 8 December 2025.

At Exeter Crown Court on Friday 10 October 2025, Jeremy Saunders, of Orchard Organic Farm near Newton Abbot, admitted perverting the course of justice after submitting forged salmonella test results following an APHA audit. He was given a four‑month suspended sentence, 180 hours of unpaid work and £387 in costs and surcharge.

The case turns on the UK National Control Programme for Salmonella, which requires routine testing of laying flocks and restricts egg use when regulated strains are detected. APHA inspectors run regular audits to ensure farms meet their legal duties and the egg supply chain remains trustworthy.

For producers from Northumberland to Lancashire, the message is straightforward: paperwork and sampling must be exact. APHA’s Newcastle laboratory is among the facilities processing National Control Programme samples, and official sampling attracts charges-a £49 fixed fee for egg‑laying flocks, £21 per sample and £12 per quarter hour for officer time and travel.

Not every smallholder is in scope. If a premises keeps fewer than 350 hens and sells directly to consumers, routine National Control Programme testing may not be required. Where testing is needed, samples must go to approved UK laboratories.

APHA says it will act firmly where individuals mislead inspectors. As Mr Edwards put it: 'Forged test results pose an unacceptable risk to public health.' The agency hopes the court’s sentence sends a clear signal across the sector.

For Northern households, retailers and restaurants, the immediate takeaway is reassurance: enforcement is working to keep eggs safe and honest. If you have concerns about compliance in the egg or poultry sector, APHA asks you to call 03000 200 301 or email customeradvice@apha.gov.uk.

Most keepers do the right thing and pay the costs that come with it; falsifying paperwork undercuts those efforts and damages trust in British eggs. With margins tight after years of rising feed and energy costs, the cheapest option is still compliance-not a day in court.