Poultry show and sales to return
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has, today (Wednesday), confirmed the return of poultry shows and sales.
It will lift the legal requirement for specific biosecurity measures, and the ban on gatherings for sale/shows it introduced against Avian Influenza (bird flu) from May 16th, 2022.
The measures it is removing relate to the prohibition on the assembly of live birds for the purposes of show or sale (SI No 592 of 2021 and to specific enforceable biosecurity requirements introduced on November 17th (SI No 593 of 2021).
In a statement today (Wednesday, May 11th, 2022), a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, explained that it has based this decision on the following:
-
- Indicators of reduced risk of avian influenza;
- No case of bird flu confirmed here in wild birds for over six weeks;
- Reduced numbers of migratory waterfowl;
- Increasing environmental temperatures and daylight hours.
Biosecurity
The DAFM, however, urges flock owners to remain vigilant and to continue to use the highest standards of biosecurity.
The spokesperson highlighted that notwithstanding the reduced risk, there is still the possibility of the virus being present in the environment or being transmitted to their flock by wild birds.
The department also reminds all poultry owners, including those who keep only 1 or 2 birds, of their legal obligation to register their premises.
Housing poultry
Last week, we reported that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine updated its guidance surrounding the legal to confine/house poultry and other birds as a precautionary measure against Avian Influenza (bird flu).
The DAFM lifted this measure, which it initially introduced on November 22nd, 2022, to mitigate the risk of avian influenza in poultry from April 29th, 2022.
The spokesperson said:
“Removing the requirement to confine birds means that all poultry and bird owners may allow their birds access to open areas and runs from April 29th.”
At the time of that statement, the DAFM confirmed that a ban on bird gatherings, shows and sales remained in force.
