Avian influenza (Bird flu): Questions & answers
This page was last updated on 6 June 2008.
The advice in this Q&A is for guidance only and is subject to the caveat that only the courts can interpret the law.
- Are bird gatherings allowed?
- What is a bird gathering?
- What is a general licence?
- Why is there a general licence?
- Is the general licensing system likely to change?
- I have read the general licence conditions. Do I have to take any further action?
- Are gamebird shooting parties allowed?
- Do I have to inform the local Animal Health Office of each gathering?
- Who is responsible for record keeping for pigeon racing when the event organiser may not always be present?
- Is domestic racing allowed?
- Is international pigeon racing allowed?
- What level of isolation is required?
- Why isolate the birds?
- Why a 7 day isolation period?
- I am planning to race my pigeons. Who do I need to notify?
- I am planning to train and my birds with pigeons from a different loft(s). Who do I need to notify?
- I am planning to train my birds but they will not be collected together with other lofts of pigeons. What action should I take?
- Do I need a licence to fly my bird(s) of prey?
- I fly my bird(s) alone. Do I need a licence?
- I regularly (several times a week) fly my bird of prey with that of a colleague. We do not always fly over the same land but don't want to have to keep informing the local Animal Health Office of each occasion. Can this be avoided?
Are bird gatherings allowed?
A. Bird gatherings are permitted outside of the Protection and Surveillance Zones applicable in Oxfordshire.
What is a bird gathering?
A. A ‘ bird gathering’ for the purposes of the general licence means the arrangement by a person of the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds from different epidemiological groups at one location. These are generally falconry displays, fairs, markets, shows, exhibitions and pigeon races. An event involving a single bird or birds which are normally kept together does not pose an increased risk of disease spread so is not classed as a gathering.
What is a general licence?
A. Event organisers do not have to apply for a specific licence but must read the conditions in a general licence. These conditions are also available on request form local Animal Health Offices. The main licence requirements are:
Anyone holding a bird gathering has to advise their local AHDO that the event is taking place and adhere to strict biosecurity practice.
A nominated person must be designated as the event organiser and a person responsible for keeping the records set out in the conditions.
There are specific requirements in the licence conditions, such as cleansing and disinfecting and record keeping, relating to bird sales, pigeon races and falconry.
Why is there a general licence?
A. Regulation 6(1) of The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006 bans bird gatherings unless under licence. Defra has assessed the risk as being sufficiently low that bird gatherings can now take place under general licence.
Is the general licensing system likely to change?
A. We keep the general licence under close review in the light of the disease situation and the risk assessment of disease entering the UK. Should the risk increase further or becomes uncertain, we would consider revoking the general licence again which would effectively ban all bird gatherings, as we did following the recent outbreak in Suffolk.
I have read the general licence conditions. Do I have to take any further action?
A. You will have to advise your local Animal Health Office at least seven days in advance that the event is taking place and observe the biosecurity measures. Other relevant legislation will still applies such as the Pet Animals Act 1951.
Are gamebird shooting parties allowed?
A. Hunting (including shooting) wild birds is permitted. However the release of game birds in the Protection and Surveillance Zones is not permitted.
Do I have to inform the local Animal Health Office of each gathering?
A. Yes, you will need to advise the local Animal Health Office that each event is taking place at least seven days in advance. The only exception is some types of falconry gatherings, see below.
Who is responsible for record keeping for pigeon racing when the event organiser may not always be present?
A. The event organiser must also ensure that at each point of gathering a responsible person keeps the records set out in condition 10 of the general licence.
Pigeons
Is domestic racing allowed?
A. Yes, domestic racing is permitted. However bird gatherings are not permitted in the Protection or Surveillance Zones and birds within these zones are subject to restrictions.
Is international pigeon racing allowed?
Yes. International racing is permitted from France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Channel Islands. However bird gatherings are not permitted in the Protection or Surveillance Zones and birds within these zones are subject to restrictions.
What level of isolation is required?
A. The owner of the bird(s) must ensure that on their return from an international race 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 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.
Why isolate the birds?
A. Isolation of the birds aims to reduce the risk that birds that have been exposed to avian influenza viruses during the race, mix with and infect other birds before disease is detected. It is crucial that birds are regularly inspected in this period and any suspicious signs are reported.
Why a 7 day isolation period?
A. The incubation period (i.e. the time interval from initial infection until the onset of clinical signs) ranges from a minimum to a maximum depending on factors such as the species of bird, age, health status, infectious dose etc.
Based on current data, the World Organisation for Animal Health maximum incubation period for notifiable avian influenza is 21 days. The average incubation period is 3-5 days therefore we assess that a safe margin is 7 days during which birds should be isolated from other birds and regularly inspected for signs of disease. This measure reduces this risk but does not eliminate the risk; it makes the assumption that pigeons will show clinical signs of disease within the average incubation period.
I am planning to race my pigeons. Who do I need to notify?
A. The event organiser must notify the Animal Health Office nearest to the liberation site at least 7 days prior to the race. Notification must include release location and date, details of the event organiser and anticipated numbers of birds.
I am planning to train and my birds with pigeons from a different loft(s). Who do I need to notify?
A. This event should be treated in exactly the same way as a race. See above.
I am planning to train my birds but they will not be collected together with other lofts of pigeons. What action should I take?
The general licence does not apply to this event as there is no mixing between different lofts of pigeons but we strongly recommend that you maintain good biosecurity at all times.
Birds of Prey (falconry)
Do I need a licence to fly my bird(s) of prey?
If you are flying your bird(s) of prey with birds from a different source then you will need to follow the general licence conditions.
I fly my bird(s) alone. Do I need a licence?
No. If the birds are all from the same source then you do not require a licence. You will need a licence if birds from another source are mixing with your birds. We still strongly recommend that you maintain good biosecurity at all times.
I regularly (several times a week) fly my bird of prey with that of a colleague. We do not always fly over the same land but don't want to have to keep informing the local Animal Health Office of each occasion. Can this be avoided?
A. This constitutes a gathering of birds therefore you must comply with the general licence and advise your local Animal Health Office where you intend to fly your birds. However, providing you can describe the places where you will, or may, be flying the bird of prey, you can arrange to update your local office on a monthly basis. However if there is a change in the disease situation the general licence may be revoked.
Page last modified:
6 June, 2008