UK: consultation on new rules for all bird keepers

The new rules would require bird keepers to not only register their birds but provide updated information annually. By registering their birds with the Animal and Plant Health Agency, keepers will ensure they receive important updates such as any local avian influenza outbreaks and information on biosecurity rules.

The consultation proposals take forward the recommendation from the 2018 Dame Glenys Stacey Review and lessons identified from the 2021/2 highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 outbreak and previous HPAI outbreaks.

In a joint statement, the chief veterinary officers from England, Scotland and Wales said: “These proposals will enable us to have a full picture of the number and location of birds kept across Great Britain and make it easier to track and manage the spread of avian disease.

“This information will also help inform future risk assessments and maintain our commitment to continually building our extensive avian influenza research portfolio.”

Richard Griffiths, British Poultry Council chief executive, welcomed the consultation as a means of ensuring the GB Poultry Register is fit to support Government and industry efforts in mitigating the ongoing impacts of avian influenza.

“Registering your poultry is an effective way of monitoring and controlling the spread of disease to protect the national flock. We, as ever, urge all poultry keepers to remain vigilant for signs of avian influenza in their birds.”

Bird keepers will need to provide information including their contact details, location of where the birds are kept and details of the birds (i.e., species, number and what they’re kept for).

The 12-week Great Britain-wide consultation runs until 31 May.