Friday marks the end of the 12-week maximum housing period allowed for free-range producers.
ADVERTISEMENT
New measures to prevent the spread of bird flu in poultry come into effect in NI on Friday (17 March), with a revised avian influenza prevention zone set to be in place until at least 30 April.
“The risk of infection from wild birds will not decrease in the coming weeks. The changes to the new prevention zone are proportionate and place the onus on the keeper to select the best option for their circumstances to protect their birds,” DAERA chief vet Robert Huey said.
Option
ADVERTISEMENT
Poultry-keepers have the option of either keeping birds housed or giving poultry outdoor access.
But if birds are allowed out, producers should keep them separate from wild birds with netting or allow controlled outdoor access with additional biosecurity measures in place.
These additional measures include fencing off standing water, regularly disinfecting concrete that birds have access to and placing feeders and drinkers under cover where wild birds cannot gain access.
Housing period
Friday marks the end of the 12-week maximum housing period allowed for free-range producers under EU rules. Guidance notes published by DAERA last week confirm that packaging for eggs from free-range birds that are housed after Friday require an overlay label classifying them as “barn eggs”.
“Once the laying bird has continuous daytime access to outdoors, their eggs can be classified as free-range again,” the Department guidance says.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
New measures to prevent the spread of bird flu in poultry come into effect in NI on Friday (17 March), with a revised avian influenza prevention zone set to be in place until at least 30 April.
“The risk of infection from wild birds will not decrease in the coming weeks. The changes to the new prevention zone are proportionate and place the onus on the keeper to select the best option for their circumstances to protect their birds,” DAERA chief vet Robert Huey said.
Option
Poultry-keepers have the option of either keeping birds housed or giving poultry outdoor access.
But if birds are allowed out, producers should keep them separate from wild birds with netting or allow controlled outdoor access with additional biosecurity measures in place.
These additional measures include fencing off standing water, regularly disinfecting concrete that birds have access to and placing feeders and drinkers under cover where wild birds cannot gain access.
Housing period
Friday marks the end of the 12-week maximum housing period allowed for free-range producers under EU rules. Guidance notes published by DAERA last week confirm that packaging for eggs from free-range birds that are housed after Friday require an overlay label classifying them as “barn eggs”.
“Once the laying bird has continuous daytime access to outdoors, their eggs can be classified as free-range again,” the Department guidance says.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS