In response to the significant increase in findings of avian influenza in kept and wild birds, in addition to the national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ), mandatory housing measures to protect poultry and captive birds will now also apply in new areas (County Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyneside) as follows:
- County Durham – Added from 7th April 2025
- Cheshire
- City of Kingston Upon Hull
- Cumbria – Added from 7th April
- Herefordshire
- The East Riding of Yorkshire
- Lancashire
- Lincolnshire
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- Northumberland – Added from 7th April
- North Yorkshire
- Shropshire
- Suffolk
- Tyneside – Added from 7th April
- Worcestershire
- York
These new measures will come into force at 00:01 on Monday 7th April 2025.
All bird keepers in these areas must, from this date, house their birds in addition to following stringent biosecurity measures. If keepers fall into a Protection Zone outside of these areas, they must also house their birds.
Further information about the additional housing measures is available in the press release on GOV.UK.
The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) requiring mandatory biosecurity measures still remains in place across GB.
Please check the disease control zones on the avian influenza interactive map to see what restrictions are in place and the biosecurity guidance available on GOV.UK.
Definitive requirements are set out in the published declarations for each disease control zone currently in force. More information is available on GOV.UK and Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
