Given the confirmed cases of AI (H5N8):
- Commercial turkey farm, Louth, Lincolnshire – 15 December
- Backyard flock, Wales – 3 January
- Backyard Flock, Yorkshire – 6 January
- Commercial turkey farm, Louth, Lincolnshire – 16 January
- Breeding pheasant farm , Preston, Lancashire – 24 January
- Commercial turkey farm, Boston, Lincolnshire – 26 January
- Game rearing unit, Pilling, Lancashire - 27 January
- Game farm, Pilling, Lancashire - 30 January
- Broiler breeder rearing unit, Diss, East Anglia - 14 February
- Backyard chicken flock, Haltwhistle, Northumberland - 24 February
along with several cases in the wild bird population in GB since 19 December, the NFU welcomes Defra’s decision to extend the Prevention Zone until 28 February.
The Prevention Zone, first announced on 6 December for an initial period of 30 days, introduced enhanced biosecurity requirements for all keepers of poultry and housing of free range birds. Keepers of free range birds will be required to continue to keep their birds indoors or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. Further details are available on the Government’s website.
Find out the latest cases in wild birds
Northern Ireland introduced a 30 day Prevention Zone on 23 December. Certain bird gatherings have also been banned (full details here).
Under EU legislation a ‘derogation’ allows eggs and poultry meat from free range birds that are compulsory housed under a Government Order to continue to be marketed as free range for a period of up to 12 weeks. As it currently stands, the 12 week period will end on 1 March. From this date, if free range birds are still required to be housed then eggs and poultry meat cannot be sold as free range. The NFU is acutely aware of this situation and have raised it at a European level via our membership of the European Farming Unions (Copa Cogeca) at their poultry group, which is chaired by NFU poultry member Charles Bourns, and also with our Brussels office.
All the info you may need on Avian Influenza
Commenting on Defra’s decision, the NFU’s Chief Poultry Adviser Gary Ford said:
"We support Defra’s announcement today as a measure given the current risk posed by Avian Influenza to the poultry sector. As members of Defra’s Notifiable Avian Disease Core AI Group, the NFU was consulted on the next steps for the Prevention Zone and requested an extension would be prudent given the recent confirmed cases in England and Wales.
"However, we recognise the length of this extension will cause some concern amongst our members and we are discussing this matter with the European Commission to fully understand the impact it may have on free-range status.
"I would urge all of our poultry members to continue to practice enhanced biosecurity at all times and to be vigilant for signs of disease. I would also ask that members of the public who keep hens, geese and ducks to follow Defra’s advice as they have an important part to play in reducing the risk of AI both to their birds as well as the commercial poultry sector."
More advice and information on biosecurity can be found here.