Avian flu housing rules to be lifted in England and Wales

Mandatory housing rules for birds in England and Wales are set to be lifted next week, following a new avian flu risk assessment.

The announcement comes just days after the publication of a report that warned the threat posed by the virus was here to stay and ways needed to be found to live with it.

But officials have warned keepers that stringent biosecurity measures will need to be maintained, as they expect the virus to keep circulating for several more weeks.

Medium risk

Updated analysis, revealed by Defra this afternoon, has assessed the risk from avian flu as “medium” in premises with poor biosecurity measures. The assessed risk remains low for sites with good practices in place.

All poultry and captive birds have had to be housed indoors since last November in England and early December in Wales, amid the continuing spread of the virus.

That requirement will now cease, except for areas that are in designated “protection zones”,  from 12:01am next Tuesday 18 April.

But enhanced biosecurity requirements introduced as part of the “avian influenza prevention zone” designation will remain in place.

Ongoing requirements

Ongoing requirements include the following:

• Cleansing and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment, and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds, using disposable protective clothing if practical.
• Reducing movements of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination.
• Use of effective vermin control.
• Thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting housing on a continuous basis.
• Keeping fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all farm and bird housing entry and exit points.
• Minimising contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including ensuring wild birds cannot access all feed and water.
• Be vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and any wild birds, and seeking prompt veterinary advice for any concerns.
• Cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces in outdoor areas and fence off areas of standing water before releasing birds, as well as using wild bird deterrents.

‘Remain vigilant’

The UK’s CVO, Christine Middlemiss, said: “While 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.”

The department has also urged all bird keepers to register their flocks, regardless of their size, so updated requirements can be shared more widely. A consultation on plans to require all bird keepers to register their flocks will continue until the end of May.