October 13, 2022

 

UK poultry farmers call for nationwide housing order to combat bird flu

 

UK poultry farmers have urged for a nationwide housing order on birds following a rise in bird flu cases in the country over the past month, The Guardian reported.

 

All poultry and captive birds in Norfolk, Suffolk, and parts of Essex were recently subject to a mandatory housing order. It is applicable to anyone who maintains a flock of birds, whether they are doing so for a living or just as a hobby.

 

It follows a sharp rise in bird flu cases in the eastern part of England, where there have been 27 outbreaks in the last month alone across the three counties. Producers of Christmas geese are among those who have suffered greatly.

 

Christine Middlemiss, the chief veterinarian for the UK, predicted that as migratory birds return to the country over the upcoming months, the number of bird flu cases on farms will increase.

 

Additionally, outbreaks have been reported in Somerset, Oxford, Staffordshire, North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Devon, and Cheshire over the past month.

 

The chief veterinary officers for Wales, England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland decided to implement a mandatory housing order across the UK in November of last year. The chief veterans from the four devolved nations only lifted this in May of this year.

 

The extension of the new regional compulsory housing order to the entirety of the UK is being urged by farming organisations.

 

The entire British poultry industry has been under tremendous emotional and financial pressure as a result of the avian influenza outbreak's tenacious persistence over the past year, in addition to rising energy and feed prices. The implementation of housing measures in the east of England is a necessary step in light of the recent increase in avian influenza cases and the distress they cause for farming families.

 

James Mottershead, chair of the National Farmers Union poultry board, said the health and welfare of their flock has always been the top priority for poultry farmers.

 

He said in order to account for any rise in risk levels across the nation, the National Farmers Union is now urging the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to consider expanding the regional housing measures on a national level.

 

A mandatory housing order for all farmed birds was deemed necessary by the British Poultry Council as soon as possible to prioritise the wellbeing of our farmers, the viability of their businesses, and the safety of all birds.

 

Additionally, UK egg producers stated that they wanted the initial compulsory housing order to be expanded throughout the country.

 

Producers of free-range eggs stated that their support was contingent upon the UK following EU proposals to permit eggs to still bear the "free range" label even if the birds are not permitted to go outside.

 

If chickens must be housed to lower the risk of bird flu outbreaks, the European Commission has proposed plans to remove the time limit on the marketing of eggs as free range.

 

With more than 160 cases confirmed since late October 2021, the UK has experienced its largest-ever outbreak of bird flu over the past year.

 

Professor Wendy Barclay, head of the infectious disease department at Imperial College London, said they have been seeing unprecedented levels of the virus around the UK this year, and usually numbers increase as winter approaches, so the situation could get even worse.

 

She said the Animal and Plant Health Agency and Defra are closely monitoring the outbreak, but it is obvious that farmed birds that are exposed to wild birds are particularly vulnerable.

 

The most recent research in science, ornithology, and veterinary advice would be considered when deciding whether to reintroduce national housing measures, according to Defra.

 

The Food Standards Agency's advice that avian influenzas pose a very low risk to food safety for UK consumers has not changed, according to the UK Health Security Agency, which continues to advise that the risk to the public health from the virus is very low. Eggs and other poultry products that have been cooked correctly are safe to consume.

 

-      The Guardian