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A once-off financial support scheme has been established to provide compensation to 14 poultry flocks who incurred financial loss as a result of an outbreak of low pathogen H6N1 strain of avian influenza.
This particular strain of avian influenza has no food safety implications, but does impact on flock productivity.
Elligble farmers can receive a payment of up to €10,000 under the de minimus scheme. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will fund 100% of eligible costs up to a maximum of €10,000 in respect of eligible applications from approved poultry producers received on or before 31 July 2020.
A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine told the Irish Farmers Journal: “While there is no legal basis for a mandatory compensation scheme under EU legislation in respect of the particular subtype of the disease identified, a once-off financial support scheme has been established.”
Terms and conditions
The reference period for compensation is between 10 March 2020 and 30 June 2020. The scheme will apply only to confirmed outbreaks of low path avian influenza H6N1 and will only be available to laying flocks of Gallus gallus and turkey flocks.
In order to be eligible for financial assistance a flock owner must demonstrate that all reasonable precautions were taken to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into the flock. Only costs associated with depopulation and rendering of affected flocks will be considered.
Small amounts of State aid, up to €20,000, are regarded as too small to significantly affect trade or competition in the common market and thus the poultry compensation falls under the de minimus scheme.
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