GovWire

Rules in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ)

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is in an AIPZ. By law you must follow strict biosecurity rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

If you live in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex you must house your birds to protect them from bird flu. This will be extended to all bird keepers in England from 00.01 on 7 November 2022.

Check the rules if you keep birds in Scotland.

Check the rules if you keep birds in Wales.

Rules in bird flu disease zones

Check what zone youre in on the bird flu disease zone map. By law, you must follow the rules for the zone that youre in.

If bird flu is suspected, 3km and 10km temporary control zones may be put in place around the infected premises.

If bird flu is confirmed, disease zones are put in place around the premises to stop it spreading.

When a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (the most serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, one of the following controls are put in place around the infected premises:

• a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone
• a 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone

When a case of low pathogenic avian influenza (the less serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, a 1km restricted zone may be put in place around the infected premises.

Sometimes larger zones are put in place to reduce the risk of bird flu spreading.

There are specific rules for each disease zone. You can find these in the declarations on the disease cases and control zones finder.

Disease zones continue to apply until theyre withdrawn or amended by a further declaration. Disease zones are only lifted when all the disease control and surveillance activities within the zone have been completed.

In all disease zones, you must:

• follow the biosecurity rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading
• keep a record of anyone that transports or markets poultry or poultry eggs (there are exemptions for table eggs)
• follow the rules for marking, sourcing, cutting, transporting and storing fresh meat and meat products
• comply with any biosecurity rules imposed by a veterinary inspector
• not organise or attend bird gatherings (including bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions and some premises used for dealing or internet sales)
• not release game birds

3km protection zones and 3km temporary control zones

In 3km protection zones and 3km temporary control zones, you must:

• follow the rules for 10km surveillance zones and 10km temporary control zones
• keep poultry and other captive birds housed
• follow the instructions from your veterinary inspector to dispose of any bird carcasses
• not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises
• not move poultry or other captive birds onto or off your premises without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)
• not move eggs without a licence (you can move table eggs to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers)
• not move poultry meat inside or outside the zone, unless you follow the rules in the case declaration

10km surveillance zones, 10km temporary control zones and 10km restricted zones

If youre in a 10km surveillance zone or a 10km temporary control zone, you must:

• keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except table eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers
• not move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals (including pigs) to or from premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)
• not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises

Captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone

If youre in a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone, you must:

• keep poultry and other captive birds housed
• keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold

What happens if you do not follow the rules

You will put your birds at risk of bird flu and they may die.

Bird flu could spread to other premises and areas.

You may also be fined and spend up to 6 months in prison.

If you think someone is not following the rules you should report them to the Local Authority Animal Health Function in Trading Standards.

Sign up for animal disease alerts

To keep up to date with the latest information you can sign up for animal disease alerts from APHA.