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.

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