October 24, 2005

Austria requires poultry to be housed
 

On Oct 20, the Austrian Health Ministry enacted a measure requiring the mandatory housing of poultry and domestic birds. As a result, poultry growers and hobby breeders are required to house their poultry and birds from Oct 22 to Dec 15, 2005, according to a USDA attache report posted on the Foreign Agricultural Service Web site.

The duration of this ordinance may be extended if necessary.

The Austrian Health Minister and the Agricultural Minister stated that this measure is a necessary precaution. The measure should protect Austrian poultry production, as well as Austrian consumers. This action is in response to the recent bird flu cases in the Romanian Danube-delta and in an area of Moscow.

On Oct 20, following a meeting between experts of the Health Ministry, the Agricultural Ministry, the Agency for Health and Food Safety, and the Austrian poultry industry, the Austrian Health Ministry enacted a measure requiring the mandatory housing of poultry and domestic birds.

As a result, poultry growers and hobby breeders are required to house their poultry and birds from October 22 to December 15 (preliminary date). The duration of this ordinance may be extended if necessary.

The Austrian Health Minister and the Agricultural Minister stated that this measure is a necessary precaution. The measure should protect Austrian poultry production, as well as Austrian consumers. This action is in response to recent avian flu cases in the Romanian Danube-delta and in an area near Moscow.

Compulsory housing is a crucial measure of the entire Austrian Avian Influenza preparedness package. Not only professional poultry growers, but also private poultry and bird owners, must keep their birds within closed buildings in order to avoid contact with wild birds and follow the necessary hygienic measures.

The free-range ban applies to the whole of Austria. The package also includes a mandatory registration of poultry growers at the district administrative offices by Nov 11; a prohibition on exhibitions and presentations of live birds; a requirement that ducks and geese must be separated from other poultry; and a requirement that citizens report the finding of any dead bird to Austrian authorities.

The Health Minister stated that the agrarian sector pushed for these measures. The measures are in conformity with EU regulations and in line with the German approach. Eggs from stabled free-range hens can still be labelled as free-range eggs.