- Mandatory housing measures will be lifted from 00:01 on
Tuesday 18th
April
- Bird flu risk levels reduced
- Scrupulous standards of biosecurity remain essential as the
risk of avian influenza continues
Mandatory housing measures for
poultry and captive birds, which were introduced across England
and Wales to help stop the spread of bird flu, will be lifted
from 00:01 on Tuesday 18 April 2023, the Chief Veterinary Officer
has confirmed today following a latest assessment of the risk
level.
Following ongoing monitoring
using the latest scientific evidence and a robust risk
assessment, bird flu risk levels have been reduced meaning
poultry and other captive birds will no longer need to be housed
and can be kept outside, unless they are in a Protection Zone.
The decision means that from 18 April, eggs laid by hens with
access to outside range areas can return to being marketed as
‘Free-Range’ eggs.
The scale of avian influenza
outbreaks across the UK and Europe have been unprecedented with
over 330 cases confirmed across the country since late October
2021. While the risk of bird flu has been reduced to ‘medium’ for
premises with poor biosecurity, the enhanced biosecurity
requirements that were brought in as part of the Avian Influenza
Prevention Zone (AIPZ) will remain in force as infection may
still be circulating in the environment for several more weeks.
The risk of bird flu remains assessed as low where good
biosecurity is applied.
Those who intend to allow their
birds outside are advised to use the upcoming days to prepare
their outside areas for the release of their birds. This will
include cleansing and disinfection of hard surfaces, fencing off
ponds or standing water and reintroduction of wild bird
deterrents.
Dr Christine
Middlemiss, the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer,
said:
“Whilst the lifting of the
mandatory housing measures will be welcome news to bird keepers,
scrupulous biosecurity remains the most critical form of defence
to help keep your birds safe.
“It is thanks to the hard work
of all bird keepers and vets who have played their part in
keeping flocks safe this winter that we are in a position to take
this action. However, the unprecedented nature of this outbreak
has proven it’s more important than ever for bird keepers to
remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain stringent
standards of biosecurity.”
Scrupulous biosecurity is the
most effective method of disease control available and all bird
keepers should apply enhanced measures at all times to prevent
the risk of future outbreaks.
Poultry and
captive bird keepers must:
- cleanse and disinfect clothing, footwear, equipment and
vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds
– if practical, use disposable protective clothing
- reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and
from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise
contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and use
effective vermin control
- thoroughly cleanse and disinfect housing on a continuous
basis
- keep fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all
farm and bird housing entry and exit points
- minimise direct and indirect contact between poultry and
captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and
water is not accessible to wild birds
-
be vigilant for any signs of
disease in their birds and any wild birds, and seek prompt
advice from their vet if they have any concerns.
We would encourage all keepers
to register their flocks with
us. For poultry this is a legal requirement if you
have 50 birds or more (poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys,
geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and
pheasants). Registering with us means that we will be able to
contact you with information or action required should an
outbreak happen near you. We recently announced a consultation on proposals to
require all poultry keepers to officially register their birds
(consultation closes at 23:45 on 31 May 2023).
The UKHSA
advise that the available evidence suggests viruses currently
circulating in birds in the UK do not spread easily to people and
food standards bodies advise that avian influenzas pose a very
low food safety risk for UK consumers. There is no impact on the
consumption of properly cooked poultry products, including
eggs.
Bird keepers should report
suspicion of disease in England to the Defra Rural Services
Helpline on 03000 200 301, in Wales contact 0300 303 8268. In
Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. In Northern
Ireland contact DAERA on 0300 200 7840 or your local DAERA Direct
Regional Office. Keepers should
familiarise themselves with our avian flu advice.
Members of the public are
reminded not to touch dead wild birds and are encouraged to
report findings of dead wild birds using the new online reporting system or by
calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77).
