Valid from: 00:01 on 23 August 2023.
EXD 178(AI) Poultry
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1136
The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006
1) In accordance with regulation 6(2) of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations S.I. 2006/2701 (“the 2006 Regulations”) the Secretary of State grants this common licence which allows, topic to compliance by the licensee with the situations within the Schedule, the gathering of galliforme birds.
2) A veterinary threat evaluation has been carried out in accordance with regulation 6(3) of the 2006 Regulations.
3) The Secretary of State is happy that (topic to the situations set out within the Schedule), hen gatherings and the transit of birds to and from gatherings is not going to considerably enhance the danger of transmission of avian influenza virus.
4) This common licence applies to the gathering of galliforme birds at gala’s, markets, exhibits, exhibitions and different gatherings which are to happen on or after 23 August 2023, topic to the situations set out within the Schedule.
5) In accordance with Article 4(4)(e) of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1136 (“the Decision”) the Secretary of State grants this common licence which allows, topic to compliance by the licensee with the situations within the Schedule, the gathering of captive birds within the larger threat areas (HRAs) recognized by the Secretary of State beneath the Decision.
6) An epidemiological evaluation has been carried out in accordance with Article 4(1) of the Decision.
7) This common licence could also be amended, suspended or revoked at any time by the Secretary of State in writing with instant impact if the veterinary threat evaluation adjustments with regard to the danger of unfold of avian influenza virus in accordance with regulation 3(1) of the 2006 Regulations.
Signed by Gordon Hickman
For and on behalf of the Secretary of State:
On 22 August 2023
Non-compliance with this licence constitutes an offence beneath the 2006 Regulations and on conviction beneath part 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981 an individual could also be liable to a limiteless effective and/or imprisonment.
Schedule of situations
General and interpretation
1) In this Schedule:
- “licensee” is the particular person arranging the hen gathering who’s accountable for compliance with the situations of this licence
- “event” is one other time period used on this Schedule for a person gathering
- “participant” is an individual who brings birds to a gathering or removes them from the curtilage of a gathering after the occasion
- “curtilage” of the gathering includes all areas of a premises or automobile used for a gathering, which incorporates areas the place stay birds and poultry merchandise are stored, and areas the place waste (similar to bedding, droppings, or different waste materials of animal origin) are saved
- “premises” contains any land, buildings or different place. For the avoidance of doubt this implies all personal or public locations, similar to automotive parks, derelict land, and lay-bys
- “vehicle” features a trailer, semi-trailer or different factor designed or tailored to be towed by one other automobile, a removable a part of any automobile and a container or different construction designed or tailored to be carried on a automobile
- “bird expert” a named particular person(s) appointed by the licensee who’s an skilled hen keeper with expertise of the species of hen(s) attending the gathering. The particular person have to be sufficiently skilled to identify indicators of ailing well being
- “specified categories of bird” – are:
(i) galliforme birds (together with pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey, guinea fowl)
(ii) anseriforme birds (together with geese, geese, swans)
(iii) birds which are reared or stored in captivity for the manufacturing of meat, or eggs for consumption, the manufacturing of different industrial merchandise, for restocking provides of sport or for the needs of any breeding programme for the manufacturing of those classes of birds
Notification
2) The licensee should notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) a minimum of 7 days earlier than the occasion.
3) Any notifications to APHA should embody a minimum of the next info:
(a) the date (or vary of dates) the hen gathering will happen
(b) the situation of the gathering, together with full postal deal with and postcode, and CPH quantity (if relevant)
(c) particulars of the licensee, together with full title of contact particular person, contact deal with, phone quantity and e-mail deal with (the place out there)
(d) anticipated numbers and sort(s) of birds that might be gathered collectively
(e) the aim or functions of the gathering
4) Any adjustments to the data offered at situation 3 factors (a), (b), (c) or (e) or any important adjustments in (d) which happen between notification and any occasion should even be notified to APHA as quickly as potential earlier than the occasion.
5) Where the occasion takes the type of common dealing or distant or web gross sales then the premises and any automobile utilized by the licensee for the gathering of birds following such a sale have to be registered with APHA, and the licensee should notify APHA a minimum of yearly of the frequency and quantity of such gross sales.
Biosecurity and Traceability
6) The licensee should take all affordable steps to stop the unfold of notifiable avian illness onto, inside and off the premises or automobile the place the gathering is held and that within the occasion of a illness outbreak or suspicion all birds attending the gathering are traceable.
7) The licensee of any honest, market, present or exhibition should present biosecurity recommendation upfront of such an occasion to all contributors that should embody:
(a) a advice that birds needs to be health-checked earlier than travelling to any gathering; and
(b) a advice that any birds travelling from a gathering to any premises (whether or not they’re returning to premises of origin or to a brand new location) have to be remoted from different birds at that premises and health-monitored for a minimum of one week and ideally 14 days afterwards; and
(c) recommendation that the premises of origin for any birds attending a gathering have to be registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency on the GB Poultry Register and that the keeper of any birds attending the gathering might want to present proof of registration earlier than being granted entry; and
(d) recommendation that the premises of origin for any birds attending a gathering in England should not be situated in Wales or Scotland and that the keeper of any birds attending the gathering might want to present proof that the premises shouldn’t be in Wales or Scotland earlier than being granted entry; and
(e) recommendation that entry to the gathering might be refused if the premises of origin is situated in a illness management zone or illness prevention zone on the time of entry to the gathering and that this might be checked at entry.
8) The licensee should not permit any cage, crate, basket, receptacle or different container onto a gathering which is visibly contaminated with hen droppings or different materials of hen origin, aside from faeces produced through the transportation of the birds to the gathering. The licensee should make this requirement identified upfront to all contributors in its promoting literature, on entry varieties or by every other acceptable means.
9) Thorough cleaning and disinfection of all stable surfaces uncovered to birds or faecal materials have to be carried out by the licensee as quickly as practicable after birds have left the gathering and earlier than the subsequent occasion. These surfaces embody, however aren’t restricted to, hard-standing, concrete, paved or tarmac areas, flooring, partitions, tables and autos used on the occasion. If an space can’t be cleansed and disinfected (for instance grassed areas) then an additional gathering will not be held till authorised in writing by APHA.
10) The licensee should:
i) be certain that no birds are allowed to enter a gathering except the participant declares that they don’t originate from premises or areas that are beneath restrictions associated to affirmation of a notifiable avian illness, together with from any momentary illness managed zone imposed by Ministers or that the premises is in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone and might present a sound CPH quantity to confirm this; and
ii) be certain that a veterinary surgeon is current on web site till all birds have entered the occasion and been inspected, a veterinary surgeon should even be out there to attend at quick discover throughout the entire time that birds are current on the occasion, and the licensee should seek the advice of that veterinary surgeon if birds present indicators of ill-health or welfare issues; and
iii) be certain that after they arrive on the occasion venue the birds stay remoted from all different birds on the occasion web site till all such birds have been individually inspected by a named veterinary surgeon designated by the licensee; and
iv) be certain that any birds that fail the inspection or present any indicators suggestive of avian notifiable illness through the occasion, are reported instantly to APHA. Such birds should then be prevented from taking part on the gathering and instantly be stored remoted from different birds till examined by a veterinary inspector and written authority obtained from APHA letting them go away the gathering; and
v) be certain that waste materials, together with any feed to which any birds had entry, all bedding, droppings, hen carcases or different materials of hen origin, that stay on the finish of the occasion, is:
a) disposed of in order that birds (together with wild birds) would not have entry to them (this could embody double-bagging, adopted by safe removing by a suitably licensed waste operator); or
b) handled in order to take away the danger of transmission of illness; and
vi) be certain that any cages, crates, baskets, pens or different containers not faraway from the premises or automobile used for the gathering by these attending the gathering are cleansed and disinfected as quickly as moderately practicable after the tip of the gathering and in any case earlier than they’re used once more; and
vii) be certain that cleaning and disinfection amenities (for instance hand-washing amenities, disinfectant mats and foot-dips) can be found to contributors and guests on web site, and that contributors adhere to good biosecurity practises; and
viii) be certain that anybody seen to be visibly contaminated with faecal materials, feathers or different materials of hen origin is refused entry to the hen space till such contamination has been eliminated
Location of gathering
11) The gathering should not be situated inside any notifiable avian illness Protection Zone, Surveillance Zone, Temporary Control Zone, Temporary Movement Restriction Zone or Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Restricted Area or an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone and if one is imposed through the course of the gathering then the contingency plan preparations (see situation 15 beneath) have to be invoked instantly and recommendation sought from APHA.
Record protecting
12) The licensee should require all contributors bringing galliforme birds to a gathering, to finish and return a signed declaration kind earlier than permitting entry to the place stay birds are stored or gathered, confirming:
a) they’ve learn and can totally adjust to all of the biosecurity info offered; and
b) that to the most effective of their data their birds haven’t been in touch with any notifiable avian illness brokers and don’t present any indicators of an infection; and
c) the deal with of the premises of origin of the birds, with affirmation that the birds don’t originate from a premises inside a Protection Zone, Surveillance Zone, Temporary Control Zone, Temporary Movement Control Zone or different notifiable avian illness managed zone and doesn’t originate in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ); and
d) that the premises of origin has been registered with APHA on the GB Poultry Register and that they’ve equipped particulars of the CPH quantity; and
e) that the premises of origin shouldn’t be situated in Wales or Scotland.
13) The licensee should make a report of all individuals who carry birds to their gathering, or take such birds from the gathering, and preserve such report for a minimum of 3 months following the occasion, the place potential this needs to be in an electronically out there format. The licensee should current these information when requested by an APHA inspector or Local Authority inspector. The report have to be offered to an inspector if requested. The report should embody a minimum of the next info:
a) full title
b) home deal with together with postcode and particulars of premises of origin of the birds if totally different from the home deal with, together with the CPH quantity.
c) phone numbers (landline and/or cellular)
d) e-mail deal with (if out there)
e) quantity and varieties of birds exhibited, raced, re-homed, purchased or offered, particulars of the origin and eventual vacation spot of the birds
f) the signed declaration containing all the small print referred to in situation 12
14) The licensee should require as a situation of entry, for all occasions or gatherings, that every one contributors test their birds for illness previous to departure from the occasion or gathering.
Contingency Plan
15) The licensee should have in place and out there for inspection written contingency plan preparations that set down what’s going to occur if there may be suspicion or affirmation of a notifiable avian illness at or close to to the occasion. The plan should embody:
i) how birds suspected of notifiable avian illness might be separated from different birds
ii) the place notifiable avian illness is suspected on the gathering, the plan should clarify how birds might be stored on the premises or automobile used for the gathering till an APHA Veterinary Inspector has given directions for birds to go away the premises
iii) preparations to maintain birds on the occasion premises or automobile used for the gathering if actions off it are restricted as a result of the gathering subsequently turns into situated in an avian notifiable illness managed zone
Notes
1) The statutory guidelines on hen gatherings apply to all hen keepers, whether or not the birds are stored commercially, as a interest, or as pets.
2) Control of hen gatherings is meant to scale back the danger of the dispersal of undetected avian influenza virus. The Avian influenza Preventative Measures (England) Regulations 2006 regulation 6 prohibits the gathering collectively of poultry or different captive birds except licensed by the Secretary of State. Regulation 4(4) of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/236 permits gatherings provided that passable biosecurity measures are in place to stop the danger of transmission of illness. This licence covers quite a lot of conditions the place birds are collected collectively and the next textual content is meant to assist hen keepers perceive whether or not these guidelines apply to their exercise.
3) The following options point out a hen gathering is happening:
- bringing collectively birds from totally different supply areas to the situation of the gathering, and afterwards transferring to vacation spot premises, which can be their authentic areas or new areas; and
- birds remaining on the gathering location for 14 days or much less, following the arrival of the final hen
4) The following are examples of gatherings:
- hen gala’s, markets, exhibits, gross sales or exhibitions
- pigeons introduced collectively, together with autos or liberation pens, for pigeon racing
- catching-up of untamed sport birds (the place they arrive from a number of areas to a single location and are then moved onwards to totally different premises)
- motion of poultry together with anseriforme and galliforme birds (besides the place the motion is direct to slaughter), gross sales or rehoming of birds, together with by means of dealing or promoting through the web, hen ‘hotels’ and hen B&B (when birds are briefly situated someplace aside from their normal premises) the place birds (whether or not or not these are those being offered) have come onto the premises within the earlier 14 days
- birds from a number of areas introduced onto a automobile after which dropped off at different a number of areas
- poultry (together with anseriforme or galliforme birds) or hatching eggs from a single premises which are taken to a distinct location for show, exhibition, sale and the place different captive birds are additionally current e.g. a falconry show. This gathering is taken into account to be a poultry gathering.
5) For readability we don’t contemplate the next to be hen gatherings:
- assortment of birds at a licensed slaughterhouse for slaughter
- poultry that are introduced collectively from totally different areas, however the place no birds go away till greater than 14 days have handed for the reason that final hen arrived on the premises
- promoting poultry and anseriforme or galliforme birds as a seller or through the web when no birds go away till greater than 14 days have handed for the reason that final hen arrived on the premises (the sale by a industrial seller of pet birds in any a part of a avenue or public place, or at a stall or barrow in a market is prohibited in accordance with part 2 of the Pet Animals Act 1951)
- the place the entire birds introduced collectively have come from the identical premises after which return to that premises afterwards
- a sale of birds which have all come from the identical single premises (a dispersal sale or ‘re-homing’)
- catching-up of untamed sport birds through the related open season the place they’ve come from a number of areas however are then moved to a single location afterwards, and stay there for breeding or different functions
- a present involving solely desk eggs
The lists in notes 4 and 5 aren’t meant to be complete.
6) Whilst occasions which aren’t gatherings don’t want a licence, it’s best follow to undertake good biosecurity measures and to maintain a report of all actions of birds on and off the premises or automobile.
7) If you might be uncertain whether or not your exercise requires a licence, APHA can present additional recommendation.
8) The 2006 Regulations comprise the next definitions –
“other captive bird” means any hen stored in captivity which isn’t poultry and contains pet birds and any hen stored for exhibits, races, exhibitions, competitions, breeding or on the market
“poultry” means all birds which are reared or stored in captivity for the manufacturing of meat or eggs for consumption, the manufacturing of different industrial merchandise, for restocking provides of sport or for the needs of any breeding programme for the manufacturing of those classes of birds
9) Article 12 (Racing pigeons) of the Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003 requires that:
“(1) An organiser of a present or race which takes place wholly or partly in England shall be certain that all racing pigeons entered for the race or present have been vaccinated towards paramyxovirus 1 in pigeons.
(2) Every one who owns or retains racing pigeons shall preserve a report of each race or present for which he enters his pigeons.”
10) The Notifiable Avian Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain defines ‘notifiable avian disease’ as avian influenza and Newcastle illness.
11) The Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003 defines “racing pigeon” to imply any pigeon transported or meant for transport from its pigeon home (any set up used for protecting or breeding racing pigeons) to be launched in order that it could freely fly again to its pigeon home or to every other vacation spot.
12) Disinfectants accepted to be used towards poultry illnesses are listed at: www.gov.uk/steering/defra-approved-disinfectant-when-and-how-to-use-it
13) Anyone in possession of any hen or hen carcase which they believe could also be contaminated with notifiable avian illness should instantly notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency workplace.
14) The related necessities of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and/or the Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No. 3) Order 2003 have to be noticed.
15) Further recommendation on biosecurity measures and every other laws which will apply may be obtained from GOV.UK or APHA.
16) There is separate General Licence for gatherings of different captive birds.
Contacting APHA
17) APHA could also be contacted through the:
