Countryside Alliance Ireland - love the countryside

Advice from Countryside Alliance Ireland

Bird flu regulations – Republic of Ireland
What you need to know!

1. The Registration of Poultry Premises Order 2005 makes it a legal requirement all those persons keeping domestic poultry or other captive birds (including pheasant, partridge and duck) to register with the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF).

2. Therefore, persons with breeding establishments must register immediately, if they haven’t done so already.

3. DAF have advised us that persons receiving pheasant, partridge or duck as day-olds or intending to release pheasant, partridge or duck poults into release pens should also register, when they receive or are about to receive their birds.

4. The main purpose behind the legislation is to ensure that DAF know where all captive birds are being held, in the event of a Bird – Flu outbreak and also to keep each shoot fully up-to-date with the bird flu situation and any resultant changes in regulations.

5. Countryside Alliance Ireland is urging all those people rearing game to register with DAF immediately, if they have not already done so and for all shoots to register as they receive their birds. Failure to do so is an offence, under the above legislation.

6. All species of birds including pheasant, partridge and ducks are covered by this legislation and there is no minimum number – i.e. if you keep any number of birds you must register.

7. A number of CAI members have expressed concerns about the antis getting their hands on information such as the location of game farms or where shoots intend to release birds, through a request under the Freedom of Information Act. DAF have assured us that the Data Protection legislation over-rides the Freedom of Information Act in this regard and therefore DAF will not, under any circumstances, disclose information relating to any individual, game farm or shoot.

8. Registration forms are available on the DAF website www.agriculture.gov.ie or from any Local District Veterinary Office. Completed registration forms should be sent directly to your Local District Veterinary Offices, a list of all these offices is also contained on the DAF website.

9. The avian influenza hotline is 01 607 2512