Avian Influenza 5-04-24 Announcement FAVV: Easing of Preventive Measures
Minister Clarinval eases the preventive measures that were activated in the context of the increased risk period for avian influenza. From tomorrow, Saturday, April 6, the obligation to confine poultry and birds from registered holdings will expire.
Specifically:
- Outside the high-risk zones with many wild waterfowl (the so-called sensitive nature areas, found on the website):
- registered holdings are no longer required to confine their poultry and birds or keep them under nets (for private holders, there was anyway no confinement obligation in effect).
- private and professional holders are no longer required to water poultry and birds indoors or under nets, and surface water can be used for watering again.
- The other additional preventive measures will still remain in effect, including:
- All poultry and birds, both from commercial holdings and hobby holdings, must still be fed indoors or under nets.
- In registered holdings, the increased supervision (sending in samples to DGZ/ARSIA during laying declines, increased mortality, reduced feed and water consumption) remains in full force.
- For slaughter poultry, the unloading regulation remains unchanged.
An overview of all measures can be found in the attached document, which will also be posted on the website: https://favv-afsca.be/nl/thema/dieren/dierengezondheid/voglegriep/maatregelen.
These relaxations are possible because the epidemiological situation has clearly improved in recent months:
- The last outbreak on a commercial holding dates back to the end of December. Our country has thus been free of avian influenza in poultry according to WOAH rules since January 26.
- No new infections have been detected among wild birds since January. This indicates that very little virus is circulating and that the risk has decreased to a level where the introduction risk to poultry can be managed with classic biosecurity measures.
It is expected that this relatively favorable situation among wild birds will continue during the coming months and summer. And although new infections cannot be excluded, the risk of that does not outweigh the adverse animal welfare effects that confinement has on poultry.
The FAVV will continue to monitor the situation in the coming months and, if necessary, ask Minister Clarinval to adjust the measures again.