Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Epidemiology Report: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreaks in Great Britain, October 2022 to March 2023, published on 30 March 2023, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ending the blanket ban on poultry shows in England and Wales.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings (such as shows) of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza virus. Detailed risk assessments can be found on GOV.UK.

A licence for a poultry gathering, such as a show, may be granted if the gathering and the transport of birds to and from it would not significantly increase the risk of the spread of bird flu. For each application for a licence to hold a gathering of poultry, an individual risk assessment will be completed, and mitigating conditions will be set out in the licence.