The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has announced that the legal requirement to confine/house poultry and other birds as a precautionary measure against Avian Influenza (bird flu) will be lifted from 29th April 2022.
The legislation requiring the precautionary confinement of birds was introduced on 22nd November 2021 to mitigate the risk of avian influenza in poultry. The decision to withdraw this requirement is based on a number of parameters which indicate a reducing risk of an avian influenza incursion – including the fact that no case of bird flu has been confirmed here in wild birds for a period of 4 weeks, reduced numbers of migratory waterfowl and increasing environmental temperatures and daylight hours.
Removing the requirement to confine birds means that all poultry and bird owners may allow their birds access to open areas and runs from 29th April. The Department, however, urges flock owners to remain vigilant as, notwithstanding the reduced risk, there is still the possibility of the virus being present in the environment or being transmitted to their flock by wild birds.
The Department emphasises that further enhanced biosecurity requirements that were introduced on 17th November (SI No. 593 of 2021) – the requirement to ensure that poultry or other captive birds cannot come into contact with wild birds, that all areas that poultry and captive birds have access to must be fenced and that they are restricted from access to open or permanent standing water and restrictions on the assembly of live birds for the purposes of show or sale (SI No 592 of 2021) – remain in place.
Bird owners should continue to remain vigilant, monitor their birds for any signs of disease and implement strict disease control measures. In particular, birds should continue to be fed indoors or under cover where wild birds cannot have access. For further information on enhanced biosecurity requirements can be found at: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/50ce4-avian-influenza-bird-flu/#how-can-i-protect-my-flock-from-avian-influenza