Nov 29th, 2022
3 mins
Wales are introducing a mandatory housing measure to protect poultry and captive birds from avian influenza, coming into force on 2 December 2022. From this date, it will be a legal requirement to keep birds indoors or otherwise separated from wild birds across Wales.
The Welsh government have also said that all keepers must also complete a bespoke biosecurity review of premises where birds are kept.
Since October, there have been five separate cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu strain in Wales, with an additional case in Cheshire, which is affecting Wales.
Wales interim chief vet Gavin Watkins said, “The latest data suggests a westward spread of avian influenza to Wales in the coming months, and increased risk of birds being infected outside, through increased viral survival times and a possible further spread in the range of wild birds carrying the virus. Having assessed the evidence, we are taking further preventative action to help protect poultry and kept birds”.
This year has seen the worst outbreak of bird flu the UK has ever seen, having a huge impact on festive turkey and goose supplies. The government has granted a temporary derogation to allow producers to slaughter their birds early, freezing them and then defrosting to be sold as fresh in the run up to Christmas.
