March 28, 2025

France lifts poultry restrictions as bird flu risk declines

France has announced that poultry flocks will be allowed outdoors again following a decrease in bird flu infections.

The government attributed the improvement to its vaccination programme, which was introduced to combat the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

In 2023, France became the first major poultry-exporting nation to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting farm ducks, which are particularly vulnerable to the virus. The measure was introduced to curb the disease, which has severely impacted poultry farms globally and spread to other species, including humans.

France's Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard told lawmakers that the vaccination policy had been effective, allowing France to regain its status as a bird flu-free country. With the risk level now classified as moderate, ducks will be permitted to go outside again.

The French poultry industry has welcomed the initiative, which has supported production recovery despite trade restrictions imposed by some importing nations. The US is considering a similar vaccination approach as it deals with rising egg prices and bird flu transmission to dairy cows and farm workers.

In Britain, authorities confirmed the detection of bird flu in a sheep this week, marking the first reported case of its kind worldwide.

- Reuters