Minister Heydon announces the lifting of the housing order for poultry, urges continuing caution due to avian influenza risk
- Published on: 29 April 2025
- Last updated on: 29 April 2025
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced the lifting of the compulsory housing order for poultry and captive birds, which he had introduced in February to protect them during the higher risk period for avian influenza. The housing order (SI 31/2025) will be revoked with effect from 10th May 2025.
The Minister said:
“The risk of avian influenza to our poultry is no longer as high as it had been in recent months, so it is now appropriate to lift the housing order and prohibition on the assembly of live birds. I want to acknowledge the hard work and cooperation from the Irish poultry industry in recent months, with farmers, vets, processors and others all working together to reduce the chances of an outbreak which could have had such serious consequences. It is important to note that avian influenza is still a risk and will remain a threat to Irish poultry for the foreseeable future.”
The Minister emphasised the importance of biosecurity:
“Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks, and must be practised year-round.”
The poultry biosecurity regulations introduced on 6th December 2024 (SI 666/2024, the Avian Influenza (Biosecurity measures) Regulations) continue to remain in force.
Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their Regional Veterinary Office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 or use the Department’s Avian Check App.
Further information, including a detailed technical update, is available at gov.ie/birdflu.