Mandatory housing measures for poultry and flocks of more than 50 captive birds will be lifted from Thursday 9 April in England and Wales, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced on 2 April 2026. The measures, introduced nationwide on 6 November 2025 to curb bird flu, are being relaxed after a risk assessment showing reduced levels of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds and poultry. Birds will no longer need to be housed indoors and may be kept outdoors, although the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone biosecurity requirements remain in place until further risk reduction. The lifting applies everywhere except in Protection Zones or Captive Bird Monitoring Zones where recent outbreaks have occurred. Keepers are urged to prepare outdoor areas, maintain strict biosecurity, and register poultry ownership within one month.
© Crown copyright, 2024, GOV.UK.
Summary adapted from content licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
For details, see https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/.
Original source: https://www.gov.uk/
Made by AI. If you spot anything of concern write us at contact@cybach.com. We’ll promptly correct irregularities.