The legal requirement to confine and house poultry and other birds as a precautionary measure against avian influenza (bird flu) will be lifted on Friday 29 April, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). On 22 November the legislation regarding the confinement of birds was introduced to mitigate the risk of bird flu in poultry.
According to the department the decision to withdraw the requirement is based on the following factors but to name a few:
- No case of bird flu has been confirmed here in wild birds for a period of four weeks
- Reduced numbers of migrating waterfowl
- Increasing environmental temperatures and daylight hours
The removal of the requirement means that all poultry and bird owners may allow their birds access to open areas and runs from the end of this month. But the department is urging flock owners to remain vigilant as there is still the possibility of the virus being present in the environment or being transmitted to their flock by wild birds.
DAFM emphasises that further enhanced biosecurity requirements that were introduced on November 17 remain in place. These include the requirements to ensure the following:
- That poultry or other captive birds cannot come into contact with wild birds
- That all areas that poultry and captive birds have access to are fenced
- That they are restricted from access to open or permanent standing water
Restrictions on the assembly of live birds for the purposes of show or sale also remain in place.