Update regarding the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone across England

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The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) welcomes the recent government announcement confirming the lifting of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across England.

​While this decision reflects a welcome reduction in the risk posed by avian influenza, the NGO urges all those involved in the management of gamebirds to remain vigilant. A lower risk level is not the same as an absence of risk, and the importance of maintaining high standards of biosecurity remains paramount. We encourage all keepers to remain familiar with the clinical signs of the disease and to continue following biosecurity best practices to protect their stock and the wider avian population.

​The NGO would also like to remind all bird keepers of the ongoing legal requirement to register their birds on the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) poultry register. This requirement applies regardless of the number of birds kept, with only very limited exceptions. Accurate registration is an essential component of the national strategy for effective disease control and surveillance.

​In addition to registration, the NGO emphasizes the vital importance of maintaining comprehensive records regarding the health, welfare, and movement of gamebirds. Accurate record-keeping is not only a regulatory necessity, but a crucial management tool that allows for the early identification of potential welfare issues and supports prompt, informed intervention.

​Supporting our members with technology

​To assist in this essential task, the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation is pleased to announce that it will soon be launching a dedicated gamebird release app, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

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Designed with the needs of the modern keeper in mind, this app will be free for all to use. It has been developed to ensure that meeting legal record-keeping requirements is now simple, safe, and straightforward, allowing keepers to spend less time on paperwork and more time on the practical management of their shoots.

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The NGO will provide further details on how to download and utilise the app in the coming weeks.

ENDS

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