FUW welcomes all-Wales poultry housing order

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed the announcement by the Welsh Government regarding compulsory housing measures for poultry and captive birds across Wales, effective Thursday 13 November, in response to a significantly elevated risk of avian influenza.

All keepers of 50 or more birds of any species must house their birds. Mandatory housing also applies to flocks of fewer than 50 birds if eggs or poultry products are sold or given away. Additional biosecurity requirements will be introduced for the gamebird sector, which experienced outbreaks last season.

These measures will be incorporated into the existing Wales Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), introduced in January. The housing order and AIPZ will remain in place until further notice and will be regularly reviewed in coordination with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and other UK administrations.

Bird keepers are urged to comply with the new regulations and maintain high standards of hygiene and biosecurity to protect animal health, food production, and public safety.

The Welsh Government statement can be read in full here.

Commenting Gerwyn Williams, Acting Chair of the FUW’s Animal Health and Dairy Committee said: “Following increasing concerns raised by members desperate to protect their flocks and businesses from infection, the FUW welcomes the introduction of a compulsory housing measure for poultry and kept birds in Wales in response to the increased risk posed by Avian Influenza from infected wild birds.”