Housing Order Needed to Protect Poultry Flocks Amid Avian Flu Risk
The IFA Poultry Committee is urging the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to introduce a housing order for poultry, following a confirmed case of Avian Influenza in County Tyrone and Fermanagh over the past few days and the increasing risk of spread.
A housing order will come into effect in the UK and Northern Ireland on Thurs, Nov 6th and the IFA has urged both DAFM and the National Disease Control Centre (NDCC) to respond swiftly and implement equivalent protective measures here.
IFA Poultry Chair Nigel Sweetnam and Vice Chair Brendan Soden described the development in recent days as a worrying escalation that poses a serious threat to poultry flocks, particularly in closely located border areas.
Wild birds continue to be reported dead and testing is underway, but the Department noted this morning on the stakeholder meeting that the risk protocol has changed and the geographical spread across Europe is much wider than previous years.
“While the Minister Martin Heydon rightly introduced enhanced biosecurity regulations last Sunday, the risk level has clearly intensified. Additional protective measures including a housing order should now be strongly considered to minimise the risk of disease spread and the Department is closely assessing the situation,” said Nigel Sweetnam.
Vice Chair Brendan Soden acknowledged that, in response to this latest development, DAFM and the NDCC held a meeting with stakeholders this morning to review the situation and there was a clear call for a housing order to be implemented to protect the welfare of the poultry flocks.
“The decision to convene this meeting is welcome, but the urgency of the threat requires that we move decisively and take the critical next steps to safeguard our poultry flocks,” Soden said.
The IFA National Poultry Committee will continue to work closely with DAFM and stakeholders to ensure that risk mitigation and practical supports remain a top priority in the days ahead.
Members of the public are reminded not to touch sick or dead wild birds and to report sightings using the AvianCheck App or via the Department of Agriculture’s website.
