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If you keep poultry, including game birds, pets or other captive birds anywhere in GB, you should take steps now to review your biosecurity. This is particularly important if you are in or close to a higher risk area.
We encourage all keepers to follow our biosecurity advice in captive birds, as it represents good practice - whether you have commercial flocks, smaller flocks, game birds, or pet birds.
There is a legal requirement for all poultry keepers with 50 or more birds to register their premises on the Great Britain Poultry Register. The voluntary registration of premises with fewer than 50 birds is highly encouraged.
Animal Health and Welfare
Scottish Government
Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
Saughton House
Edinburgh
First published:19 Mar 2021Last updated:21 Dec 2021 - show all updates
Update to general licence information.
Updated Risk level text on Wild bird surveillance.
Minor update to wild bird surveillance and dead or sick wild birds: what to do.
Updated dead or sick wild bird chapter.
Updated to link to recent reports of cases.
Updated to reflect wild bird surveillance findings.
Updated self-assessment checklist on Biosecurity page.
Added link to movement of poultry by-products and hatching eggs licence to licensing page.
Updates to latest situation.
Added link to movement of table eggs general licence to licensing page.
'Game birds' section added to Latest situation.
Licensing section updated with link to movement of poultry carcases general licence
Wild bird surveillance section on latest outbreaks page updated.
Minor formatting amendments to licensing page.
Licensing page updated to add link to movement of samples for salmonella testing: general licence.
Amended Dead or sick wild birds: what to do.
Licensing page updated to add link to movement of mammals general licence.
Updated licensing page.
Link to application requesting exemption to restrictions on licensing page amended.
Latest situation updated.
Licence section updated to reflect latest situation.
Changes to Latest situation.
Added link to latest situation publication.
Updated Latest situation.
Updated Latest situation.
Updated Latest situation.
Minor textual changes to Latest situation.
Latest situation updated.
Latest situation updated.
Dead or sick wild birds information updated.
Update to bird gatherings permitted section.
Minor updates to make content clearer.
Latest situation updated with information about general licence for bird gatherings.
Latest situation updated with information about housing measures lifted on 31 March (23:59 hrs).
Link to risk assessment guide and AIPZ declaration added.
Latest situation information updated with information about the Housing order to be lifted 23:59 31 March, but Avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ) still in place.
Declaration of end of protection zone and revocation of restricted zone for Glenrothes area.
Latest situation information updated.
Updated to include information about highly pathogenic strain, PZ and SZ specifications and general licence on mammal movement.
Latest situation information updated re declaration of two Temporary Control Zones in Glenrothes.
Latest situation information updated.
Wild bird surveillance information updated.
Updated the licencing page to say the licence has been revoked.
Latest situation information updated.
Update adding link to end of surveillance zone protection declaration, and additional locations for presence of H5 vaccine
Duck, geese and gamebirds poster added as well as link to Avian Influenza Prevention Zone poster.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Added new section on licencing for Protection and Surveillance Zones.
Updated latest information section.
Information about disposing of dead wild birds found on private property added.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situation information updated.
information added to the dead or sick wild birds: what to do section
Latest situation information updated to include Avian influenza H5N8 (pathogenicity to be confirmed) has been confirmed in poultry and captive birds at a premises near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
Latest situation information updated.
Latest situated information updated to reflect highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) of the H5N8 strain has been confirmed in broiler breeder chickens at a premises near Leominster in Herefordshire.
Latest situated information updated to reflect the declaration of an Avian influenza Prevention Zone has been declared across the whole of Scotland as of 17:00 on 11 November 2020.
Latest situation updated to reflect two unrelated confirmed cases of avian influenza in England and increasing reports of avian influenza affecting flocks in mainland Europe.
Pathogen information updated to reflect latest results.
Latest information updated to include links to 2 new outbreaks of Avian Influenza in Cheshire and Kent.
Latest situation updated to reflect the fact that here are currently no restrictions.
