The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

PART II PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Measures to reduce the risk of the transmission of avian influenza

6.—(1) If, after carrying out a risk assessment, the Department considers that action is necessary to reduce the risk of the transmission of avian influenza to poultry or other captive birds from wild birds or from any other source, it must—

(a) declare an avian influenza prevention zone in all or any part of Northern Ireland; or

(b) serve a notice on the occupier of a premises where poultry, other captive birds or any categories of poultry or captive birds specified in the notice are kept.

(2) A declaration or notice under paragraph (1) must impose such measures as the Department considers necessary to reduce the risk of transmission of avian influenza.

(3) When deciding the measures to impose under paragraph (2), the Department must consider whether measures are necessary—

(a) to prevent direct or indirect contact which wild birds might otherwise have with poultry and other captive birds;

(b) to reduce the risk of feed and water provided to poultry and other captive birds being contaminated with avian influenza virus; and

(c) to reduce the risk of the spread of avian influenza between premises.

(4) The power of the Department to impose measures by declaration or notice under this regulation includes the power—

(a) to require poultry and other captive birds to be housed or otherwise kept separate from wild birds;

(b) to require poultry or other captive birds or categories of such birds specified in the declaration or notice to be housed or otherwise kept separate from other poultry and captive birds;

(c) to require that poultry and other captive birds are provided with feed and water to which wild birds have no access;

(d) to require keepers of poultry and other captive birds and others who come into contact with such birds to cleanse and disinfect their footwear and take such other biosecurity measures as an inspector may require;

(e) to prohibit or regulate the collection together of poultry or other captive birds at any fair, market, show, exhibition, race or other gathering under the authority of and in accordance with the conditions of a licence granted by the Department;

(f) to ban or limit the use of birds of the orders Anseriformes (including ducks, geese and swans) and Charadriiformes (including gulls, murres, terns, avocets, puffins, woodcock, oystercatchers, sandpipers, plovers, surfbirds, snipes and skimmers) as decoys during bird-hunting.

Surveillance for avian influenza

7.—(1) The Department shall carry out surveillance at such premises and of such birds as it considers necessary—

(a) to detect the prevalence in different species of poultry of infection with avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7; and

(b) to assess the risk of the spread of influenza of avian origin by wild birds.

(2) The Department shall give notice to the occupier of premises selected by it for the purposes of such a survey.