During an outbreak of HPAI (highly pathogenic avian influenza), strict rules apply to the movement and spreading of poultry litter, manure and slurry within disease control zones.
A licence is required for the following activities:
- The movement of poultry litter, manure or slurry from a premises that is inside a 3km PZ (Protection Zone) or 10km SZ (Surveillance Zone).
- The spreading of such poultry litter, manure or slurry within a 3km PZ or 10km SZ.
Waste wash water, defined as “water used for the rinsing and removal of detergent as part of a cleaning process”, does not require licensing to be moved. However, disposal of wastewater should be in line with all other relevant legislation.
You can check to see if your premises, or the premises supplying you with poultry litter, manure or slurry is inside a disease control zone using APHA’s interactive map.
Obtaining a licence
A general licence (EXD353) is available to move and spread used poultry litter, manure or slurry within a disease control zone in England and Wales. The general licence allows poultry litter, manure or slurry to be moved off a premises in a 3km PZ or 10km SZ if it is moving directly to a premises where it is going to be treated or disposed of, subject to all other conditions of EXD353 being met.
You must check that you comply with all of the requirements of the EXD353 general licence before moving or spreading any poultry litter, manure or slurry.
If you comply with the licence requirements you can carry out the movement and/or spreading under general licence.
You can find a copy of the EXD353 at: GOV.UK | General licence for the movement from premises and spreading of used poultry litter, poultry manure and poultry slurry in a protection zone or a surveillance zone in England and Wales
If the activity that you wish to undertake is not covered by this licence, or if you are unable to comply with any of the terms and conditions, then you will need to apply for a specific licence using the APHA licensing portal.
Transport and treatment conditions
Before moving the poultry litter, manure or slurry under the EXD353 general licence, strict conditions on the transport and treatment of the material must be met:
- Any poultry on the premises must be inspected by the licensee to check they are not showing any clinical signs of avian influenza.
- Prior to removal and where large amounts of dust are likely to be produced during the handling, materials should be dampened with suitable virucidal disinfectants.
- The exterior of the vehicle used to move things under this licence must be free of any visible contamination with mud, slurry, animal faeces, excretions, poultry feathers, litter, eggshell or any other similar matter.
- The vehicle’s wheels and wheel arches must be cleansed and disinfected after loading and before leaving the premises. The cleansing and disinfection must take place at a point beyond which no contamination with poultry feathers, faeces, litter, eggshell or any similar matter can take place.
- The vehicle or container used to transport the materials must be leak proof. There must also be a spill kit available in the vehicle during transport in case of any spillage.
- A copy of the EXD353 general licence should be printed and a copy carried with the consignment to the destination premises.
- Any person involved in the movement must also observe the strict biosecurity requirements detailed within the EXD353 general licence.
- When moving anything under the EXD353 general licence, a consignment note must be carried that includes the quantity of material being moved, date of movement, name of the consignor and consignee, address of the premises from which materials have been moved, registration of the vehicle, address of disposal premises.
After unloading at the destination premises, the following conditions must be met:
- The parts of the vehicle and any equipment used to transport anything which might be contaminated with mud, slurry, poultry faeces, excretions, feathers or any other similar matter must be cleansed and disinfected.
- The vehicle’s wheels and wheel arches must be cleansed and disinfected after unloading and before leaving the destination premises.
- A copy of the EXD353 general licence must be provided to the operator of the destination premises upon arrival.
- Any person involved in the movement must also observe the strict biosecurity requirements detailed within the EXD353 general licence.
- A record of the movement including the registration of any vehicle used must be made by the occupier of the source premises as soon as is reasonably practicable after the movement and retained for at least six weeks after the movement is completed.
Spreading conditions
You may only spread poultry litter or manure if it has been treated by one of the following methods:
- Steam treated to a temperature of at least 70°C
- Sprayed with a Defra-approved disinfectant at the correct concentration, and as far as practicable covered with impervious sheeting to protect against access from wild birds and other animals. It must be stacked and stored for a minimum of 42 days after the last addition of material.
- Buried on the premises from which it originated, deep enough to prevent access by wild birds and animals (prior consent is needed from the EA in England or NRW in Wales)
- Treated at a plant approved under article 24 of assimilated Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 by incineration, combustion, or rendering only, in accordance with the relevant animal by-products legislation.
Slurry must be stored for a minimum of 60 days after the last addition of material.
Inability to meet the licence requirements
If the activity that you wish to undertake is not covered by this licence, or if you are unable to comply with any of the terms and conditions, then you will need to apply for a specific licence using the APHA licensing portal. The APHA will assess the risk and consider whether they can issue a licence.
Rules in other zones
Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zones: There are no movement restrictions within this type of zone and licences are not required.
Temporary Control Zones: There are no general licences available for use within Temporary Control Zones so a specific licence would be needed for any movements. APHA will then consider whether they can issue a licence.
