Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 5th January, 2021.

I, CHARLIE MCCONALOGUE, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 36 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 (No. 15 of 2013), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Avian Influenza (Precautionary Confinement of Birds) Regulations 2020 and come into operation on 21 December 2020.

2. In these Regulations:

“poultry” means birds kept in captivity for the production of meat or eggs for consumption, the production of other products, for restocking supplies of game birds or for the purposes of breeding for the production of these categories of birds;

“other captive bird” means a bird other than poultry that is kept in captivity;

“secure building” means a building where poultry or other captive birds are confined in a manner that they cannot come into contact with wild birds.

3. (1) A person who has poultry or other captive birds in his or her possession or under his or her control shall take all reasonable steps to confine such poultry or captive birds –

(a) in a secure building in accordance with the biosecurity measures set out in Schedule 1, or

(b) where it is not possible to confine poultry or other captive birds within a secure building, to confine them in a manner that they do not have access to other poultry, other captive birds or wild birds, in accordance with the biosecurity measures in Schedule 1.

4. Regulation 3 is a penal provision to which section 36 (4) (b) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 applies.

Schedule 1

Biosecurity measures

All necessary measures to reduce the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry or captive birds are kept.

All necessary measures to minimise the risk that poultry or other captive birds will become affected with avian influenza through exposure to manure, slurry or other products.

Effective vermin control, including preventing the entry of wild and domestic animals to buildings where poultry or captive birds are kept.

Feed and bedding must be stored in such a manner that other animals do not have access.

A person who has contact with poultry or other captive birds must take all reasonable measures to avoid the transfer of avian influenza virus to or from buildings where poultry or other captive birds are kept, including cleansing and disinfection of equipment, vehicles and footwear that has been in contact with poultry or other captive birds.

Provide at all entry and exit points of land or premises where poultry or captive birds are kept, disinfection points containing sufficient amount of a disinfectant that is effective against avian influenza virus used in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

All necessary measures must be taken to prevent access by wild birds to buildings where poultry or captive birds are kept.

Provide feed and water to poultry or captive birds in such a way that is not accessible to wild birds.

Take all necessary measures to prevent over-growth of vegetation or accumulation of uncovered water on land or premises,

Remove from land or premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept any thing that might attract wild birds from the premises such as fallen fruit or uneaten feed,

Take all necessary measures to thoroughly clean and disinfect buildings and equipment at the end of each production cycle, using a disinfectant that is effective against avian influenza viruses at the right concentration.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

17 December, 2020.

CHARLIE MCCONALOGUE,

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

These Regulations provide for the housing of poultry and captive birds as a precautionary measure against risk of avian influenza as well as detailing the minimum biosecurity measures to be taken.