Avian Flu Prevention Zones lifted across England and Wales

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The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation is delighted to inform its members that the measures in place to reduce the risk of Avian Influenza in England & Wales were lifted at 12.00 on 25 May 2018 following the latest risk assessment from Defra.

From this date, keepers are no longer required by law to follow specific disease prevention measures to reduce the risk of infection from wild birds. All keepers should however continue to follow industry best practice on biosecurity, including minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures, cleaning footwear, keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy and feeding birds indoors. The latest information and guidance can be found via GOV.UK.

Please refer to the following websites for further information about the situation in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation said, “We welcome the removal of the AI Prevention Zones in England and Wales. This is in line with the currently reduced risk of bird flu passing from wild birds into kept flocks, including gamebirds. Gamekeepers should remain vigilant nonetheless and continue to practise good biosecurity. We will update our members again should there be further developments."

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Notes to editors:

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation.  www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk