On Tuesday, the Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), Mark Spencer, made a statement on the current avian influenza outbreak.
Unfortunately, in the Borough of Newcastle, there has already been an outbreak of bird flu, centred on Kidsgrove. I sympathise with all local bird keepers affected, whether farmers or those who simply keep a few chickens or ducks.
Given the national spread of the disease, mandatory housing measures for all poultry and captive birds are to be introduced to all areas of England from Monday 7 November, following a decision by the United Kingdom’s chief veterinary officer. The housing measures will legally require all bird keepers to keep their birds housed and to follow stringent biosecurity measures to help to protect their flocks from the disease, regardless of type or size.
This has been the UK's worst ever outbreak of the influenza, with over 200 cases confirmed across the country in the last 12 months. The Minister set out that the Government are taking action to minimise the economic burden of the outbreak on the food, farming and tourism industries and on the wider economy while protecting public health. Compensation to affected farmers will be accelerated.
It is reassuring that the Minister was categorical that there is absolutely no identified risk to human health at all and that this continues to be monitored. The UK has the highest levels of food safety available and the Food Standards Agency has said that there is no food safety risk for UK consumers.