News

Defra has confirmed that, subject to no further changes in the disease position, the Protection and Surveillance Zones imposed with regard to the avian influenza outbreak in Suffolk are to be lifted as follows: First Protection Zone - to be lifted and become part of wider Surveillance Zone on Saturday 8th December Second Protection Zone - to be lifted and become part of wider Surveillance Zone on Monday 10th December Wider Surveillance Zone and Restricted Zone to be lifted on Wednesday 19th...

The first epidemiology report into this H5N1 avian influenza outbreak has been published. No evidence has so far been found to indicate introduction via infected poultry or poultry products or vehicles/people transporting them, from countries which have undisclosed infection in their domestic turkey, geese and duck population. Wild birds cannot be ruled out as a source of infection; there is no evidence of H5N1 infection in the local wild bird population or in GB as a whole, but continued...

Defra today announced that it is lifting the ban on bird gatherings, shows and pigeon racing which has been in place since confirmation of avian influenza in Suffolk on 12 November. This decision is based on expert consideration of surveillance and tracing results. As a precautionary measure, the ban will remain in place within the Restricted, Surveillance and Protection Zones in Suffolk and Norfolk. Birds from those zones will not be able to be taken to gatherings in the rest of the country....

Please click here to view the Declaration of a Protection Zone,Surveillance Zone and Restricted Zone as of 2.30pm, Monday 19th November.

Update 18:00 15 November Defra has today made available general licences to address immediate issues relating to the movement of bird by-products and mammals in the zones in place for Avian Influenza. The national ban on bird gatherings and movement restrictions in the zones remain firmly in place. It is essential that poultry keepers are vigilant in checking their birds and report signs of notifiable disease immediately. Also today, the decision has been taken to reclassify the cull at one of...

Please click here to view the Declaration amending the Bluetongue Protection Zone extending it slightly in two areas in Cambridgeshire. These are small extensions to address specific welfare issues, specifically to allow movement of animals off the Nene Marsh to their home farms. More information (including the interactive map allowing zooming in to these areas to see the exact boundaries) is available on the Defra website....

Following initial epidemiological work and veterinary assessment, four further premises have been identified as Dangerous Contacts. All poultry on these premises will be culled as a precautionary measure. These premises are within the existing Restricted Zone. This action is in line with DEFRA's contingency plans and takes into account the level of assessed risk at this early stage in the outbreak. In addition, some general licences to address immediate welfare issues in the area covered by the...

Defra has today (12th) confirmed positive results for the H5 strain of Avian Influenza in turkeys on a premises near Diss on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. A 10 km Surveillance Zone and 3km Protection Zone have been established within which movements of birds are restricted and all birds must be housed or isolated from wild bird contact. Further information is available on Defra's website.

Defra confirmed yesterday that the EU Commission and Member States have agreed a new decision which will allow the relaxation of current Foot and Mouth Disease export restrictions on meat and meat products. For more details please click here.

With effect from midnight tonight (5th November) the Land Registry has decided that certain documents, for example leases, mortgage deeds, etc., will no longer be available in an electronic form on the Land Register Online website. This seems to be as a result of concerns relating to potential misuse of these documents. If copies of such documents are required they will now need to be applied for in writing from the Land Registry or can be obtained from a Land Registry office. To view the Land...

Please click here to view amendments made to the Bluetongue control and protections zones at 16.00 on 29th October 2007.

Defra today confirmed the extension of the Bluetongue Control Zone in Kent and East Sussex, following a new case of Bluetongue in Sevenoaks. As a result, the Control Zone covering parts of Essex and East Anglia will now merge with the Control Zone in Kent and East Sussex to become one single Control Zone. The Protection Zone has also been extended slightly in the South West of England. The Control Zone in the Peterborough area remains unchanged. For more information please click here....

Defra anounced at 12.45 pm today that the Control Zone in Kent is being extended into East Sussex following confirmation today of a case near Rye. The Bluetongue Protection Zone is also being slightly amended accordingly. This reflects the UK’s Bluetongue Control Strategy and EU legislation. For more information please visit the Defra website.