All poultry and captive birds in England are being ordered to be kept indoors in a bid to stem the avian flu epidemic.
Defra announced that a national housing order will be introduced across England from November 7, making it a legal requirement for all bird keepers to keep their birds indoors and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.
The order will extend the mandatory housing measures already in force in the hot spot area of Suffolk, Norfolk and parts of Essex to the whole of England following an increase in the national risk of bird flu in wild birds to very high. The UK is currently dealing with its worst ever bird flu outbreak with more than 200 cases confirmed across the country in the past 12 months.
Speaking about the new biosecurity measures, the UKs chief veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: We are now facing the largest ever outbreak of bird flu and are seeing rapid escalation in the number of cases on commercial farms and in backyard birds across England. The risk of kept birds being exposed to disease has reached a point where it is now necessary for all birds to be housed until further notice.
Scrupulous biosecurity and separating flocks in all ways, from wild birds remain the best form of defence. Whether you keep just a few birds or thousands, from November 7 you must keep yours indoors. This decision has not been taken lightly, but is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.
The news followed an earlier statement by Defra announcing that poultry farmers and producers impacted by an avian flu outbreak will now be able to claim compensation at the outset of any planned cull rather than at the end.
The change, according to the Government, would enable farmers to benefit from swifter payments to help stem any cash flow pressures while offering earlier certainty about compensation entitlement.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer said: Farmers and poultry producers are facing real pressures as a result of this avian flu outbreak, and we know many are concerned about the impact on their flocks.
We hope the practical solutions announced today will help provide greater financial certainty. We very much appreciate the continued cooperation from the sector as we battle this insidious disease and will continue to keep the situation under close review.
Under the new compensation plans and in consultation with the Food Standards Agency (FSA), an easement to marketing rules is also being introduced in England. The measures, according to Defra, mean that poultry farmers will have the option to slaughter their flocks early and to freeze these products, which can then be defrosted and sold to consumers between the period November 28 and December 31 in a bid to give farmers certainty over business planning.
AI advice can be found by clickinghereand bird keepers should report suspicion of disease to the Animal and Plant Health Agency on 03000 200 301.
