November 1, 2005

Spain extends ban on outdoor poultry farming 

The Spanish government said Monday that it has expanded the list of zones where outdoors poultry farming is banned, to 25 areas in the vicinity of marshlands, from 18 areas.

In a press release, the Agricultural ministry said the regional governments of Andalucia, Cantabria and Murcia had asked for seven additional marshland areas to be included in the definitive list of areas cited in a draft first published Tuesday.

The Spanish government has ordered poultry farmers within 10 kilometres of the marshlands to keep their birds indoors.

Veterinarians consider marshlands risk areas because several bird species pass through those areas in their annual migrations.

Around 1,500 Spanish poultry farms keep their birds outdoors, according to the Agricultural ministry.