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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of consulting stakeholders on a proportionate approach to managing avian influenza risks in relation to poultry shows.

Defra officials have engaged with stakeholders to better understand achievable conditions for poultry shows. This process helped to shape a set of template conditions which could mitigate the disease risk associated with some poultry gatherings (for example shows). Applicants can apply to the Animal and Plant Health Agency for a specific licence for a poultry gathering. An individual risk assessment will be competed for each application to determine if a licence can be granted for that specific event.