Maintain a chook gathering – GOV.UK

From 23 August 2023 gatherings of galliforme poultry and galliforme birds are permitted in England supplied you:

Galliforme birds embody chickens, turkeys, pheasants, partridge, quail and guinea fowl.

These adjustments solely apply to gatherings of galliforme poultry and galliforme birds held in England. Galliforme birds from premises situated in Wales and Scotland usually are not permitted to attend galliforme gatherings.

Gatherings of anseriforme poultry and anseriforme birds together with geese, geese and swans are nonetheless banned. The chook gatherings common licence for all these chook was revoked on 8 November 2021.

Gatherings of all different forms of birds besides anseriforme poultry and anseriforme birds are permitted supplied you:

What counts as a chook gathering

Gatherings embody (however usually are not restricted to) chook gala’s, markets, exhibits, gross sales, exhibitions and a few premises used for dealing or web gross sales. As well as, autos used to move dwell birds the place the birds are introduced collectively from a number of premises (so referred to as many-to-one or many-to-many actions) are additionally thought of gatherings.

You possibly can examine what counts as a chook gathering within the notes part of the licences. Observe that in case you deliver collectively 2 birds from separate areas that’s thought of a gathering. If one of many birds is outlined as poultry or is a galliforme or anseriforme species it’s thought of to be a poultry gathering even when all of the poultry are from a single premises.

Learn how to maintain a chook gathering in England

Hen gatherings usually are not permitted inside a illness management zones (which surrounds an contaminated premises) or for galliforme birds in an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone. Hen keepers and companies can verify the place illness management zones are at the moment in power on the chook flu illness zone map.

Exterior of illness management zones chook gatherings are solely permitted underneath the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Rules (S.I. 2006/2701) if licensed. 

Defra has revealed a captive chook gathering common licence allowing different captive chook gatherings (together with within the AIPZ) of all different forms of birds besides anseriforme
poultry and anseriforme birds, supplied they’ve been notified to APHA not less than 7 days earlier than the occasion and that the gathering meets all the necessities of the overall licence.

There’s a separate poultry gathering common licence allowing galliforme chook gatherings (however not in an AIPZ) supplied they’ve been notified to APHA not less than 7 days earlier than the occasion and that the gathering meets all the necessities of the overall licence.

Common licences are issued by authorities businesses to offer a authorized foundation for folks to hold out a variety of actions. By definition folks or organisations don’t want to use for common licence however you’re required by regulation to abide by their phrases and circumstances.

Definitive necessities for allowed chook gatherings are set out within the captive chook gatherings common licence and the poultry common licence. These common licences are efficient from 00:01 on 23 August 2023 till additional discover.

Pigeon racing from Northern Eire and the EU additionally must adjust to the EU laws for the export of captive birds.

Learn how to notify APHA of a chook gathering

In England you need to notify APHA by calling the Defra Rural Providers Helpline on 03000 200 301 selecting the related choices for APHA not less than 7 days earlier than a chook gathering.

You’ll want to offer the next data:

• date (or vary of dates) of the gathering
• location of gathering (full postal tackle and postcode, and County Parish Holding (CPH) quantity (if relevant))
• sorts and numbers of birds anticipated
• function of the gathering (for instance, present, sale or racing)
• your identify, tackle and call telephone quantity, and an e mail tackle and cell quantity

APHA will notify the native authority in regards to the gathering in your behalf.

Preserve information for 3 months

You should preserve information of chook gatherings for not less than 3 months after every occasion, together with:

• identify, tackle and call variety of anybody transferring birds to and from the gathering
• sorts and numbers of birds exhibited, raced, transported, purchased or bought on the gathering

APHA or the native authority might ask you for this data. Seek the advice of the common licence for definitive necessities on taking and retaining information of chook gathering.

Enforcement

Non-compliance with this common licence constitutes an offence underneath the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Rules (S.I. 2006/2701) and on conviction underneath part 73 of the Animal Well being Act 1981 an individual could also be liable to a vast wonderful and or imprisonment.

Compliance with the chook gatherings common licence is enforced in coordination with APHA by Native Authorities Animal Well being Operate (LAAHF), which is generally a part of the Buying and selling Requirements or Environmental Well being Service of a neighborhood authority. Use the postcode software to seek out particulars of learn how to contact your LAAHF with any stories of non-compliance.

Notifiable avian illness danger

The standing of the chook gatherings common licence will likely be saved underneath common evaluation as a part of the federal government’s work to observe and handle the dangers of notifiable avian illness. Any choices on amending or withdrawing the overall licence will likely be primarily based on danger assessments containing the most recent scientific and ornithological proof and veterinary recommendation.

Defra may withdraw or amend the chook gatherings common licence instantly if the chance of the notifiable avian illness danger will increase. Additional data on the most recent illness state of affairs could be discovered on the avian influenza, Newcastle illness and paramyxovirus steerage.