The Ulster Farmers’ Union is notifying members that an Avian Influenza (AI) housing order is being introduced to Northern Ireland (NI). Announced by DAERA earlier today, mandatory housing measures for all kept birds and poultry will come into force across NI from midday on Monday 28 November in a bid to combat the growing threat of AI.
The housing order is a legal requirement that all bird keepers must abide by. This includes owners of pet birds, commercial flocks, backyard and hobby flocks. Birds must be kept indoors, separate from wild birds, and it is part of the AI Prevention Zone in NI.
The UFU urge all poultry keepers to:
- Review their biosecurity measures and business continuity plans immediately
- Avail of DAERA’s biosecurity guidance, including the self-assessment tool on their website
- Sign up to DAERA’s text alert service (text BIRDS to 67300)
- Report any suspicion of disease in their flock to their local vet local divisional veterinary office immediately
DAERA have stated that so far this year in NI, there has been one confirmed case in a captive bird holding and, since April, there have been 21 confirmed wild bird cases. Positive cases in wild birds, commercial and backyard flocks, across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, continue to occur and, in recent months, have been on the rise.
