Avian influenza (bird flu): General licence
Bird gatherings
Before you arrange the collection together of poultry or other captive birds from different epidemiological groups at one location you must read and adhere to the conditions within the general licence.
- Biosecurity means taking steps to ensure good hygiene practices are in place so that the risk of a disease occurring or spreading is minimised.
- Good biosecurity should be practised at all times.
- Taking the right measures can help protect your birds and those of other people.
The general licence allows bird gatherings to take place while minimising the risk of any disease spreading between flocks. It benefits the whole industry and the biosecurity conditions within the licence should be treated as good practice.
Where all the birds at an event, e.g. sale, show, training flight etc. are from a single flock, the event does not have to take place under the conditions of the general licence. However, it is recommended that you follow the advice in Appendix 1 to help minimise the risk of disease spread.
General Licence
European Communities Act 1972, section 2(2)
The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006
Under regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006 
(“the Regulations”), having carried out a veterinary risk assessment and being satisfied that the bird gathering and the transit of birds to and from such a gathering will not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza virus, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs hereby licenses the arrangement of the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds in England (except within the Protection and Surveillance Zones) and, in the case of racing pigeons, for racing within the British Isles and from France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Channel Islands only, at fairs, markets, shows, exhibitions and other gatherings, subject to the conditions set out in the Schedule.
Should the risk situation change, the Risk Assessment will be revised, and the general licence that permits gatherings may be revoked, meaning that gatherings may be restricted or banned.
Definitions
‘British Isles’ for the purposes of this licence means England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man but it excludes the Channel Islands.
‘Epidemiological group’ for the purposes of this licence means a group of birds with a defined epidemiological relationship that share approximately the same likelihood of exposure to a pathogen. This may be because they share a common environment (e.g. birds in a shed), or because of common management practices. Often, this is the whole flock.
‘Gathering’ for the purposes of this licence means the arrangement by a person of the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds from different epidemiological groups at one location.
‘Event organiser’ for the purposes of this licence means the person who accepts the responsibility of ensuring the licence conditions are implemented.
‘Premises’ for the purposes of this licence means any land, building or place (this includes car parks).
Alison Reeves |
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs |
Schedule
General licence conditions
Conditions applying to bird gatherings in England except pigeon races and pigeon training events into England and falconry events in England, which are covered below.
1 A nominated person will be the event organiser who is responsible for keeping the records set out in condition 2.
2 A record of all exhibitors and vendors of birds must be kept for three months, which includes the following information:
a) full name;
b) home address and address of where the birds were kept prior to the event if different (see condition 4);
c) telephone number;
d) number and types of birds.
3 The event organiser will ensure when gathered birds are to be taken abroad (including pigeons which are not intended to be liberated) that they leave, remain and return to England as captive birds.
4 The event organiser will ensure gatherings are not attended by any birds brought into the UK from outside the British Isles (see definition of British Isles) in the previous 28 days.
5 The event organiser will ensure that a named veterinary surgeon (or another veterinary surgeon if the named person is unavailable) is contactable for advice and can attend in the event of any suspect disease.
6 The event organiser must ensure biosecurity advice is distributed at the event.
7 If sales of birds are taking place at the event the event organiser must make all vendors aware that they must keep a record of all sales. The event organiser must keep these records for at least three months from the final day of the event. This must include the name, address and telephone number of both the vendor and the buyer, and any identifying features or individual identification of the purchased bird(s).
8 The event organiser must notify the local Animal Health Office nearest to the event at least 7 days prior to the event taking place. Notification must include date, location, details of the event organiser and anticipated numbers and types of birds.
Conditions applying to gatherings for pigeon races and pigeon training events (within England and into England from other parts of the British Isles and from France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Channel Islands):
9 The event organiser must ensure that at each point of gathering a responsible person will ensure compliance with conditions 10 – 14 inclusive.
10 The responsible person must make a record of all attendees and keep this for at least three months from the final day of the event. The record must include the following information for each:
a) full name;
b) home address;
c) telephone number;
d) number of birds;
e) name of club to which the entrant/ participant belongs (and individual(s) if not affiliated to a club);
f) ring numbers of individual birds
11 The event organiser will ensure gatherings are not attended by any birds brought into the UK from outside the British Isles (see definition of British Isles) in the previous 28 days.
12 The event organiser will ensure that a named veterinary surgeon (or another veterinary surgeon if the named person is unavailable) is contactable for advice and can attend in the event of any suspect disease.
13 The event organiser must ensure biosecurity advice is distributed to entrants/ participants at the event.
14 The Animal Health Offices for the premises in which the gathering of birds prior to a pigeon race is located must be notified of the date, time, location and approximate number of birds (and release location for pigeon races outside the British Isles) at least 7 days prior to the gathering. If changes to the timing of the gathering need to be made at short notice, in the event of circumstances such as bad weather the local Animal Health Office must be notified; this can take place within 7 days.
15 Seasonal racing programmes
Where available, racing programmes (and subsequent updates) should be provided to local Animal Health Offices nearest to where any liberations are to take place. This should include:
- Release location and date.
- Approximate location of where the birds are returning to (and route).
- Contact details of person who can stop the liberation at short notice.
Conditions applying to falconry events in England:
16 Birds of prey must be kept separate from poultry at the event.
17 A nominated person must be designated as the event organiser and a person responsible for keeping the records set out in condition 18.
18 The responsible person must make a record of all attendees and keep this for at least three months from the final day of the event. The record must include the following information for each falconer:
a) full name;
b) home address and address of where the birds were kept prior to the event if different (see condition 19);
c) telephone number;
d) number and species of birds at the event.
19 The event organiser will ensure gatherings are not attended by any birds brought into the UK from outside the British Isles (see definition of British Isles) in the previous 28 days.
20 The event organiser will ensure that a named veterinary surgeon (or another veterinary surgeon if the named person is unavailable) is contactable for advice and can attend in the event of any suspect disease.
21 If sales of birds are taking place at the event the event organiser must make all vendors aware that they must keep a record of all sales. The event organiser must keep these records for at least three months from the final day of the event. This must include the name, address and telephone number of both the vendor and the buyer, and any identifying features or individual identification of the purchased bird(s).
22 The event organiser must ensure biosecurity advice is available at the event.
23 The event organiser must notify the local Animal Health Office (AHO) nearest to the event at least 7 days prior to the event taking place. Notification must include date, location, details of the event organiser and anticipated numbers and types of birds.
Biosecurity conditions to be applied
Apply to all gatherings (1)
- All litter and manure within the cages, crates or baskets must be contained until disposal. Any spillages outside the cage to be cleansed and disinfected immediately.
- All litter and manure must be disposed of in a manner which does not present a risk of spread of the disease, e.g. in sealed bags for normal refuse collection in such a manner that other birds do not have direct access to it.
- All exhibitors/entrants must be instructed to cleanse and disinfect the show cages, crates or baskets before the event and advised that the show cages, crates or baskets should be cleansed and disinfected on return to the home premises and before they are used to hold any other bird.
- Written detailed action plans, held by the event organiser or nominated responsible person, must be available for use by the local Animal Health Office and the event organiser or nominated responsible person in the event of a disease incident at the event or nearby the event.
Additional condition for sales
- Buyers must isolate the purchased bird(s) from any other birds (except those purchased at the same event) for at least 7 days. Any signs of ill health observed in the purchased bird(s) during this period must be reported to a veterinary surgeon and such birds must not be mixed with any other birds until the presence of an avian notifiable disease has been ruled out.
Additional conditions for pigeon races
- Individual pigeons should be inspected for signs of disease before being mixed with pigeons from other lofts in crates or transport containers.
- All crates, baskets and pigeon containers used for transport, and holding birds prior to liberation must be cleansed and disinfected prior to and after the race.
- For a race within the British Isles, birds returning to their loft in England more than 48 hours after the start of the race should be isolated for a minimum of 21 days. The period could be extended beyond 48 hours in exceptional circumstances such as where bad weather causes a delay to the return of a large number of birds. If in isolation, birds should be inspected regularly and any signs of ill health notified to a veterinary surgeon or the local Animal Health Office if a notifiable disease is suspected.
- For a race starting outside the British Isles, all returning birds should be isolated from other birds, and not raced again, for a minimum of 7 days. This should increase to 21 days if pigeons return home later than 72 hours after release. If in isolation, birds should be inspected regularly and any signs of ill health notified to a veterinary surgeon or the local Animal Health Office if a notifiable disease is suspected.
Birds taken abroad (including racing pigeons)
- A nominated person must be designated as the event organiser and must ensure poultry or other captive birds taken outside of the British Isles for showing or racing are put into isolation for a minimum period of 7 days on their return to the British Isles.
Isolation Period
- The owner of the bird(s) must ensure that on their return from a race outside the British Isles those birds do not come into direct contact with other birds for a minimum of 7 days, or 21 days if they return home later than 72 hours after release, and that appropriate biosecurity measures (2) are followed. This is to minimise the risk of transferring disease between the isolated birds and others in the loft. Birds may be isolated as a group but the isolation must run for the required period starting when the last bird is added to the group.
Additional conditions for falconry events
- To prevent contamination between birds from different sources, all boxes, cages and equipment that might become contaminated such as gloves, hoods and perches must only be used for birds from one premise. Birds should not be handled with handling equipment belonging to birds from other premises.
- Hands and forearms must be thoroughly washed with soap and water after the falconry event and before handling other birds.
- All participants in falconry activities shall, as far as is reasonably practicable, take any waste, including food with them upon leaving the location of the falconry area. This must be disposed of in a manner which does not present a risk of spread of the disease, e.g. in sealed bags for normal refuse collection in such a manner that other birds do not have direct access to it.
- Falconers should cleanse and disinfect boxes, cages and perches used for the birds before the event, on return to the home premises and before they are used to hold any other bird.
Non-compliance may constitute an offence under the Regulations and under the Animal Health Act 1981 and render a person liable to three months in prison and/or a £5000 fine on conviction.
Non-compliance with the Regulations and with licences granted under them is an offence under Regulation 13.
Appendix 1: Biosecurity guidance for single flock events
A single flock event is when the birds are from the same source and are being presented for either sale or show. These must be birds that are normally kept together on a single premises.
During the event they must be the only flock on the premises or it will become a gathering. The premises will include the place where the birds are gathered (this includes the venue car park).
There are common practices that should be followed by organisers of single flock events, especially when using premises at which other single flock events or gatherings occur.
You should ensure that:
- All litter and manure within the cages, crates or baskets is contained until disposal. Any spillages outside the cage to be cleansed and disinfected immediately.
- All litter and manure is disposed of in a manner which does not present a risk of spread of the disease, e.g. in sealed bags for normal refuse collection, so that other birds do not have direct access to it.
- All show cages, crates or baskets are cleansed and disinfected before the event and the show cages, crates or baskets should be cleansed and disinfected on return to the home premises and before they are used to hold any other bird.
If you attend a single flock event and purchase a bird(s), you should isolate it from your other birds to allow you to monitor for disease.
Don’t be responsible for disease spread!
Page last modified:
June 6, 2008 19:34