December 18, 2020

 

New measures in place to curb bird flu cases in UK

 

 

Under a national lockdown in the United Kingdom, millions of free-range hens and other birds must be kept indoors starting December 21, in an effort to curtail the spread of a virulent strain of avian flu sweeping across the country.

 

Keepers have 11 days to prepare for the strict lockdown-style measures, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their vet, and where necessary, erect additional housing or self-contained netted areas.

 

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) made the announcement earlier this month that the chief veterinarians of England, Scotland and Wales had agreed to the new legal requirement for all owners to bring their flocks indoors to keep them safe from potentially infectious wild birds.

 

The new measure applies to both large commercial poultry farms and small farms with hens in coops or garden pens. Lockdown and the shift towards self sufficiency has triggered a huge surge in interest by individuals in keeping birds and there is concern that many may have scant regard or lack of understanding of the importance of bio-security measures.

 

The restriction will apply to chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants. No end date for the measures has yet been given, and Defra said they would be kept under regular review.

 

Eggs can continue to be marketed and labelled as free-range for 16 weeks from December 14, but if restrictions last longer, they must be downgraded to barn-produced using stickers on the packaging. Similarly, poultry meat can be labelled free-range for 12 weeks. To be defined as free-range in the UK, a chicken must be at least 56 days old before slaughter and have had access to outside space for at least half that time.

 

56% of the UK's retail egg sales are premium free-range, the highest proportion in any European country, whereas only 2% of eggs are from the barn system.

 

A similar case happened four years back from December 2016 to May 2017 when measures were put in place of a so-called housing order in the UK poultry sector due to a significant outbreak of bird flu.

 

Thousands of turkeys have been culled after outbreaks in North Yorkshire, Cheshire and Norfolk, while cases were confirmed this week in Warwickshire and Worcestershire after a number of dead swans were found.

 

Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said: "While contingency plans are in place and the spread of bird flu is being effectively monitored, the combination of avian influenza, the COVID-19 pandemic and a tight, non-negotiable Brexit deadline, has proven yet again the vulnerability of Britain's food security."

 

 - The Guardian