Important Changes to Bird Flu Regulations

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The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation is reminding its members and others within the shooting community with captive birds, including gamebirds, that alterations are about to be made to bird flu regulations in England and Wales. Please note however that the nature of the changes and when the changes will happen differ in England and Wales.

In Wales, when the current Avian Influenza Prevention Zone expires tomorrow, Sunday 30 April 2017, it will not be replaced. The temporary ban on poultry gatherings, however, will remain in force in Wales for the moment (gamebirds are exempt from this restriction).

In England, the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone and the ban on poultry gatherings are set to be lifted from 15 May 2017, provided there are no further cases in poultry (the last case in poultry was confirmed on 24 February 2017) or findings of H5N8 in wild birds (bird flu was last found in wild birds on 10 March 2017). This change follows on from the relaxation on 13 April 2017 of the extra controls that were in force in High Risk Areas in England.

Be aware however that the threat posed by bird flu to captive birds has not gone away. Officials in England and Wales have stressed that industry standard best practice on biosecurity should still continue to be followed by those with captive birds when the legally enforceable requirement to follow specific disease prevention measures to reduce the risk of infection from wild birds is lifted.

A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation said: “The indications are that bird flu is loosening its grip on the countryside in the warmer, drier weather, which is good news. And the official announcements made in England and Wales reflect this. It is important however that we do not become complacent as the risk posed by bird flu appears to diminish. It is essential we continue to use all the appropriate and relevant biosecurity measures available to us. A recurrence of bird flu could have a profound effect on next season’s game shooting. Please report suspicious bird deaths and keep looking for updates on the NGO website and on our social media.”

Please click on these links for the latest information on bird flu in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Other essential information

The NGO continues to ask its members to be vigilant and to report any dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese or ducks) or gulls or five or more dead wild birds of other species, when encountered in the same location in unusual circumstances, to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77. Details of how to spot the symptoms of bird flu can be found here

Official guidance and advice on all relevant aspects of avian influenza – from implementing biosecurity measures to spotting symptoms and how to go about reporting suspected cases – are available in a directory on the Defra website. It can be viewed by clicking here

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