Bird flu restrictions lifted on flocks

A compulsory requirement on poultry breeders to house or confine their birds as a precautionary measure against the threat of bird flu has been lifted by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The decision to lift the legal requirement, which has been in place since December 23, 2016, was announced this morning by the Department.

The decision to lift the requirement is due to a number of factors which indicate a reducing risk of further bird flu outbreaks, the Department has said.

The most recent confirmed case of the disease in wild birds in Ireland was detected nearly two months ago. Furthermore, the reducing number of migratory waterfowl, along with increasing environmental temperatures and daylight hours, have also supported the Department's decision.

A case of the H5N8 strain of avian influenza was discovered in a whooper swan at Gortermone near Carrigallen, on the Leitrim-Cavan border last January, prompting widespread fears in a region which is famed for its poultry production.

The decision to lift the restrictions was welcomed by Cavan-Monaghan Fine Gael TD, and Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys.

“It is good news that the compulsory confinement of poultry has today been lifted,” she said.

Minister Humphreys said the announcement will come as “a relief” for local farmers and producers in Cavan and Monaghan, and the change will mean that free range flocks will regain their status for the purposes of marketing free range eggs and poultry meat. There will no longer be a requirement for additional labelling.

However, she warned breeders to remain vigilant and monitor their birds for any signs of disease in their flocks.

“While today’s announcement is welcome it’s important that we do not become complacent as there is still the possibility of the virus being present in the environment or being transmitted to flocks by wild birds. In this regard, I would encourage all local flock owners to remain vigilant and monitor their birds for any signs of disease.”