Avian Influenza (Biosecurity measures) Regulations 2020

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Citation: IR SI 566/2020
• Year: 2020

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 4th December, 2020.

I, CHARLIE MCCONALOGUE, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 36 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (No. 15 of 2013), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Avian Influenza (Biosecurity measures) Regulations 2020.

2. In these Regulations:

“poultry” means birds kept in captivity for the production of meat or eggs for consumption, the production of other products, for restocking supplies of game birds or for the purposes of breeding for the production of these categories of birds;

“other captive bird” means a bird other than poultry that is kept in captivity.

3. (1) A person who has poultry or other captive birds in his or her possession or under his or her control shall comply with the biosecurity measures-

(a) set out in Schedule1, and

(b) in the case of a person who has 500 or more poultry or other captive birds in his or her possession or under his or her control, the biosecurity measures set out in Schedule 2.

4. Regulation 3 is a penal provision to which section 36 (4) (b) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 applies.

Schedule 1

Regulation 3 (a)

Biosecurity measures

1. All necessary measures to reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry or other captive birds are kept.

2. All necessary measures to minimise the risk that poultry or other captive birds will become affected with avian influenza through exposure to manure, slurry or other products.

3. Effective vermin control, including preventing the entry of wild and domestic animals to land or premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept.

4. Feed and bedding must be stored in such a manner that other animals, including wild birds, do not have access.

5. A person who has contact with poultry or other captive birds must take all reasonable measures to avoid the transfer of avian influenza virus to or from land or premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept, including cleansing and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and footwear that has been in contact with poultry or other captive birds.

6. Provide at all entry and exit points of land or premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept, disinfection points containing sufficient amount of a disinfectant that is effective against avian influenza virus used in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

7. All necessary measures must be taken to prevent access by wild birds to land or premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept.

8. Provide feed and water to poultry or other captive birds in such a way that is not accessible to wild birds.

9. Take all necessary measures to prevent overgrowth of vegetation or accumulation of uncovered water on the land or premises,

10. Remove any thing that might attract wild birds from the premises such as fallen fruit or uneaten feed,

11. Inspect the fabric and structural integrity of any building used to house poultry or other captive birds for holes and leaks, with particular emphasis on roofs, gutters and downpipes. Any holes and leaks must be repaired immediately to prevent water ingress.

12. Take all necessary measures to thoroughly clean and disinfect housing and equipment at the end of each production cycle, using a...