Defra announce Avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) required in some areas from Monday 23rd December 2024

Following a number of cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry, APHA have raised the risk category in both wild and captive birds and from noon on Monday 23rd December 2024 require an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ).

The AIPZ is required in the following areas:

East Riding Yorkshire

The City of Kingston upon Hull

Lincolnshire

Norfolk

Suffolk

This applies to all kept birds in the affected areas including pet birds, commercial flocks and back yard flocks.

The housing measures mean that it will be a legal requirement for all poultry keepers in the affected areas to keep their birds indoors, or otherwise separate from wild birds, and to follow the strict biosecurity measures to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

Please check the Defra website for details of the specific rules.

The organic regulations and Soil Association Standard 3.12.11 allow the housing of organic poultry where there is a temporary statutory obligation to do so, such as the obligations required under the AIPZ. The housing of organic poultry under these AIPZ requirements will not affect the organic status of your poultry or poultry products provided all other standard requirements are met.

There is separate legislation which covers the use of the term ‘free-range’ on egg labels. If you use Free-range as well as organic on your labels, please be aware of the free-range legislation requirements when birds are housed for a prolonged period of time due to Avian Influenza restrictions. Currently birds can be housed for 16 weeks without losing their free-range status.

When organic poultry do have to be housed you must ensure they have access to roughage and other environmental enhancement to meet their ethological needs (SA Standard 3.12.19). Bales of straw, hay or alfalfa, pecking blocks, vegetables and other vegetations such as foliage can all help to provide birds with the roughage they need and environmental enrichment to meet their needs to forage for food. Products that are eaten by the birds must be organic or approved for use under organic standard requirements. For more information on enrichment materials see the Featherwel website. Additionally litter management is critically important and extra attention should be made to ensure litter it dry and friable (topped up as needed) with increased droppings and traffic from housed birds.

You can read our guidance on coping with housing orders & maintaining good flock welfare here, as well as previous guidance from Soil Association's Organic Farming magazine here.

You are advised to be vigilant for any signs of disease in birds, and seek prompt advice from your vet if you have any concerns about your birds.

If you suspect bird flu in your poultry, you must report it immediately by calling:

• 03000 200 301 if you’re in England

• 03003 038 268 if you’re in Wales

• your local Field Services Office if you’re in Scotland.

You should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

Please familiarise yourselves with the Government avian flu advice. The new housing measures will be kept under regular review by APHA.