Avian flu control: Chicken, turkey or goose for Christmas? Make sure it’s registered!
Parrots, budgies and similar are generally exempt if they are kept indoors. If you do not register, or make efforts to register, your birds you could open yourself up to a large fine or three months in prison under the Animal Health Act 1981.
Birdkeepers will need to provide their contact details, location of their birds as well the species, number of birds and reason for keeping. The information on the register will be used to identify and monitor all birdkeepers in disease control zones and hopefully ensure controls zones can be lifted, and trade can resume as quickly as possible.
The register will be split into those keeping under 50 birds and those keeping more than 50. Once registered, you are required to inform the Animal and Plant Health Agency within one month if:
- You no longer keep or own the birds
- Your contact information change
- The species of poultry or captive birds you keep changes
- The purpose changes for keeping your birds
- You begin keeping 50 or more poultry or other captive birds
The National Farmers Union and others have been asking the government to review the poultry register for many years and after a consultation in 2023, Defra announced in March 2023 that the government would be decreasing the threshold for mandatory registration will be reduced from 50 birds to one.
The government said the changes would help manage potential bird disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and help limit the spread.
Given the large fines and custodial sentences that can be imposed, it is essential you get legal advice as soon as possible, if you are unsure about your obligations, or if you receive a Court summons.
For further information and advice, please contact David on 01482 398372 or email [email protected] and visit https://www.wilkinchapman.co.uk/sectors/agriculture