Bird flu protection zone: free range egg derogation signed

On the 3rd February the department imposed protection, surveillance and restricted zones around the infected premises in Suffolk requiring poultry to be housed or isolated from wild birds.

This requirement extended to free range egg laying flocks in the area. Farming Minister Jeff Rooker has today signed a derogation allowing the area's free range status to be maintained for a 12 week period despite the ongoing isolation requirement.

Poultry meat enjoys a similar 12 week derogation, but unlike eggs, it is triggered automatically by a veterinary confinement order; this has been in place since the 3rd February and therefore doesn't require a similar Ministerial declaration.

It is important to point out that under the Compendium of UK Organic Standards housing organic birds will not lead to a loss of organic status provided all other requirements under the compendium are met.

The order can be accessed via the link:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/ai/latest-situation/index.htm