New measures to help protect poultry industry from bird flu

The introduction of new registration requirements means that bird keepers have to register their birds and update their records annually.

The new measures, which have been set out by the government, aim to better protect the poultry sector from future avian influenza outbreaks.

Under these changes, there will be requirements for all bird keepers - regardless of the size of their flock - to officially register their birds. Previously only those who keep 50 or more poultry must do so, limiting the effectiveness of our national disease control measures.

By registering their birds, keepers will ensure they receive important updates relevant to them, such as on any local avian disease outbreaks and information on biosecurity rules to help protect their flocks. 

This will help to manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and limit any spread.

The information on the register will also be used to identify all bird keepers in potential disease control zones, allowing for more effective surveillance, so that zones can be lifted at the earliest possible opportunity and trade can resume more quickly in the event an outbreak of avian disease was to occur.