International trade: Customer Information Notes - AE/08/08
Avian Influenza in wild birds: export trade
Purpose
1. To inform you that Avian Influenza (AI) type H5NI has been confirmed in 3 wild mute swans in Abbotsbury, Dorset, England and advise how this might impact on exports of live poultry and hatching eggs, captive birds, poultry meat and poultry meat products from Great Britain (GB).
Information
2. Defra will be issuing information about the incident and regularly updating the Defra website.
3. We are also issuing CINs about international trade.
UK’s Avian Influenza Status
4. As a consequence of the H5N1 outbreak in Suffolk in November 2007 the UK is currently not ‘officially free’ from Avian Influenza according to the criteria set by the OIE, the International Animal Health Organisation which is recognised by the world community. However, as these new cases have been found in wild birds it will not affect our intention to regain our ‘officially free’ status later this year.
Intra-Community Trade
5. The positive message is that trade from the UK to other Member States can carry on largely unaffected by this isolated incident, the only provisos being as follows:
- Wild Bird Control Area: Poultry and captive birds (includes for example pet budgerigars) cannot move off holdings without being licenced
- Wild Bird Monitoring Area: For 15 days following confirmation of the disease poultry and captive birds (includes for example pet budgerigars) cannot move off holdings without being licenced
- Fairs, shows and gatherings of birds in both the Control and Monitoring Areas are banned
6. Find in the attached Annex 1 a summary of all the movement controls that apply following confirmation of Avian Influenza in wild birds.
7. Any exporters wishing to export from the Control and Monitoring areas should contact their local Animal Health Office.
8. Outside of both the Control and Monitoring Areas, exporters can continue to apply for intra-Community trade export health certificates for poultry, hatching eggs and captive birds from their local Animal Health Offices in the normal way. Such certificates give ‘area’ freedom from avian influenza.
9. In the Monitoring Area, after 15 days and provided no further H5N1 cases occur; exporters can resume applying for intra-Community trade export health certificates for poultry, hatching eggs and captive birds from their local Animal Health Offices in the normal way. As before such certificates give ‘area’ freedom from avian influenza.
10. Poultry meat and poultry meat products can continue to move to other Member States on commercial documents. Exporters have a responsibility to know the origin of their product and whether it has originated within a restricted area.
Third Country Exports
11. As a result of the November 2007 outbreak a number of Third Countries already have in place Avian Influenza related bans. The latest situation can be found in CIN GEN 07/392.
12. Otherwise, export health certificates will continue to be available for hatching eggs, poultry meat and poultry products to Third Countries provided the condition relating to avian influenza is signable by an Official Veterinarian. Animal Health will issue these certificates entirely at the exporters risk along with a Notice that describes in brief the risks you are subject to.
13. For live poultry and other birds the system established after the November 2007 outbreak still applies. Animal Health will only issue export health certificates if the UK has positive confirmation from the Third Country’s veterinary authorities that they are content to accept the consignment. Exporters who have an imminent consignment or who have a planned export within the forthcoming weeks should contact Defra (see contact details below) urgently. In these priority cases we will contact the overseas veterinary authorities and the FCO Overseas Post to try to get confirmation that the consignment will be accepted. Exporters need to be aware that in the current situation some export consignments for live birds may not be able to go ahead.
14. Defra will issue regular situation reports providing as up-to-date information as we have on import bans or restrictions. We cannot guarantee that the information is comprehensive but it will include what information has come to our attention – see information and CIN web links above.
Further Enquiries
15. If you have any enquiries or comments concerning this Customer Information Note please contact Export Enquiries on 020 7904 6413.
Email: mailto:iah-exports@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Annex 1
AI outbreak in wild swans in Dorset on 10 January 2008
Trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products, and other bird
This document is for guidance only. As regulations may change or their interpretation may be further refined, exporters should seek advice from their local Animal Health Office concerning their particular circumstances.
1. Legal position
1.1. Under OIE rules avian influenza in wild birds is not notifiable.
1.2. Under EU rules, contained in Decision 2006/563/EC, where H5N1 is confirmed in wild birds, a 3 km control area and a 10 km monitoring area must be applied around the location of the infected bird.
1.3. The EU rules are implemented in England by The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds)(England) Order 2006.
2. Within wild bird control areas
Note abbreviations:
CA Control Area
MA Monitoring Area
MS Member State of the EU
TC Third Country, i.e. not a member state of the EU
| Pet birds | Captive birds may not be moved from the premises on which they are kept [6.a] |
| Outdoor birds | The authorities MAY require outdoor flocks to be housed, and other appropriate biosecurity measures [5.b] |
| Movement of live poultry | Move only under licence and only to go to premises under official control in CA or MA [6.a. and 9.1.a], or else under the special categories below |
| Ready to lay, And turkeys for fattening | Move only under licence and only to go to premises under official control in same MS, and remain there for 21 days [6.a. and 9.1.b] |
| Poultry for immediate slaughter | Move only under licence to a designated slaughterhouse [6.a. and 9.2.a] |
| DO, when eggs were laid in area which was a CA at time of lay | Move only under licence to a holding in same MS, and surveillance plus 21 day standstill at holding of destination [6.a. and 9.2.c] |
| DO, when eggs were laid in area which was not a CA at time of lay | Move only under licence, provided hatchery can demonstrate no contact with chicks/eggs from within the CA [6.a. and 9.2.e] |
| HE for hatching | May be licensed to designated hatchery in same MS [6.d. and 10.1.a], Or to any hatchery provided that: a. the flocks of origin have been serologically tested for AI, and b. strict biosecurity is applied in transit and at the hatchery [6.d. and 10.1.b] |
| HE as SPF or for manufacture | May be licensed for specific purposes [6.d. and 10.1.c. and 10.2] |
| Table Eggs | The Decision and the England legislation are both silent |
| Meat, inc mince and preparations and products from premises within CA | May be licensed to move anywhere provided it is produced in accordance with H.1.2.3. [6.e. and 11.a. and b] |
| Wild feathered game meat | May be licensed to move anywhere provided it is produced in accordance with H.1.2.3. [6.e. and 11.a. and b] |
| Litter, manure etc | Litter may not be moved, except under licence to a treatment plant [6.f] |
| Animal by-products of avian origin | May not be moved except under licence to approved facilities [6.g. and 12] |
| Live bird gatherings | Forbidden [6.b] |
| Bird shoots | Forbidden, unless licensed [6.h] Release of game birds banned [6.i] |
2. Within the wild bird monitoring area
| Pet birds | For the first 15 days captive birds may not be moved from the premises on which they are kept [8.a] |
| Outdoor birds | The authorities MAY require outdoor flocks to be housed, and other appropriate biosecurity measures [5.b and 7] |
| Movement of live poultry | No movements permitted for the first 15 days except for under licence to holdings under official control, or under the categories listed below [8.a. and 9.2.b] |
| Poultry for immediate slaughter | Move only under licence to a designated slaughterhouse [8.a. and 9.2.a] |
| DO, when eggs were laid in area which was a CA at time of lay | Move only under licence to a holding in same MS, and surveillance plus 21 day standstill at holding of destination [8.a. and 9.2.c] |
| DO, when eggs were laid in area which was not a CA at time of lay | Move only under licence, provided hatchery can demonstrate no contact with chicks/eggs from within the CA [8.a. and 9.2.e] |
| HE for hatching | No restrictions |
| Table Eggs | The Decision and the England legislation are both silent |
| Meat, inc mince and preparations and products from premises within CA | The Decision and the England legislation are both silent |
| Wild feathered game meat | The Decision and the England legislation are both silent |
| Litter, manure etc | The Decision and the England legislation are both silent |
| Animal by-products of avian origin | The Decision and the England legislation are both silent |
| Live bird gatherings | Forbidden [8.b] |
| Bird shoots | Forbidden, unless licensed [8.c] Release of game birds banned [8.d] |
International Animal Health Core Team, Import Policy Team
Page published: 10 January, 2008