Mandatory housing for poultry and other captive birds has been lifted in England from 00:01 on Thursday 9 April 2026. Keepers may let birds outside unless they are in a protection zone or a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone. The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone remains in force across Great Britain and biosecurity requirements continue to apply. (gov.uk)
Location still determines obligations. Keepers should check their premises on Defra’s disease‑control map and then apply the rules for the zone in force. Within protection zones and captive bird (monitoring) controlled zones, housing remains compulsory and movements are tightly restricted. Breaches can lead to fines or up to 6 months in prison. (gov.uk)
How the zones operate is standardised in guidance. When highly pathogenic avian influenza is confirmed, APHA can impose a 3km protection zone with a surrounding 10km surveillance zone, or a 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone. Where low pathogenic avian influenza is confirmed, a 1km restricted zone may be used. Larger or temporary control zones may also be declared where needed. (gov.uk)
Licensing remains central to business continuity. Inside disease control zones, movements of poultry, other captive birds, eggs, specified poultry products and mammals to or from premises with birds are prohibited unless covered by a general licence or an approved specific licence. Some movements, including table eggs to processing, are permitted subject to strict conditions and documentation. (gov.uk)
For bird gatherings, organisers outside disease control zones may rely on the general licence for events involving columbiformes, passeriformes, psittaciformes and birds of prey, provided APHA is notified and licence conditions are met. Any gathering that includes galliformes, anseriformes or ratites requires a specific licence, and organisers must retain records for three months. (gov.uk)
Risk levels were updated ahead of the lifting. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency currently assess the risk of HPAI H5 in wild birds in Great Britain as medium. The risk of poultry exposure is low, with medium uncertainty where biosecurity is suboptimal and low uncertainty where stringent biosecurity is applied consistently. (gov.uk)
The 2025 to 2026 outbreak picture shows 96 confirmed HPAI H5N1 cases in kept birds across the UK to date: 75 in England, 9 in Scotland, 7 in Wales and 5 in Northern Ireland, alongside one LPAI case in England. First detections this season were 9 October (Northern Ireland), 11 October (England), 25 October (Wales) and 12 November (Scotland). Under WOAH rules, the UK is not currently free from HPAI. (gov.uk)
Vaccination policy remains unchanged. Routine vaccination of poultry and most captive birds is not permitted in England. Vaccination of zoo birds is allowed only where eligibility criteria are met and APHA authorises it. A cross‑government vaccination taskforce continues to examine options, noting trade and surveillance considerations. (gov.uk)
Public health agencies continue to judge the risk to the general public as very low. In rare detections associated with close contact with infected birds, UKHSA undertakes contact tracing and offers antivirals to high‑risk exposures. (gov.uk)
Food safety advice is unchanged. The Food Standards Agency assesses bird flu as a very low food safety risk; properly cooked poultry, game birds and eggs remain safe to eat. (food.gov.uk)
Wild bird management remains precautionary. Members of the public should not touch dead or sick wild birds and should report findings using Defra’s online service or helpline. Reports support surveillance and may prompt official collection and testing where criteria are met. (gov.uk)
Immediate actions for keepers today include preparing ranges before release by cleansing and disinfecting hard surfaces, removing standing water, fencing off ponds and re‑introducing wild‑bird deterrents. Birds housed for months may need gradual access to outdoor areas to avoid welfare issues; maintain biosecurity plans and records. (gov.uk)