All poultry to be registered under new government plans

Backyard poultry keepers will need to officially register their flocks under new government plans designed to curb the spread of avian influenza.

Flocks of less than 50 birds are currently exempt from registration, but this has made it difficult to track and manage disease spread.

See also: Free-range eggs to be classified as ‘barn eggs’

A consultation launched by the government on Tuesday 7 March seeks to change that, with a requirement for all keepers to register their birds with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and update information annually.

It follows a recommendation in the 2018 Dame Glenys Stacey Review and lessons identified during previous disease outbreaks.

The rules would cover backyard flocks, birds of prey and pigeon keepers, and would require owners to provide information, including their contact details, the location of where birds are kept, the species and number of birds, and what they are kept for.

In a joint statement, the chief veterinary officers of England, Scotland and Wales said registration would provide a full picture of the number and location of birds kept in Great Britain, and would make it easier to track and manage the spread of avian disease.

The consultation will run until 31 May.