Poultry keepers urged to register flocks

Poultry keepers in the East of England were today urged to start registering their birds as part of a new scheme to boost government and industry ability to effectively tackle an outbreak of avian flu.

Owners, who can request a registration form by calling a freephone number or download a copy from Defra's website, have until 28 February next year to register their birds.

Defra minister Ben Bradshaw urged owners of flocks of 50 or more birds to fill out and send off a registration form as soon as possible.

The Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) Regulations 2005 require those who usually keep 50 or more poultry on a commercial poultry premises to register their birds.

Mr Bradshaw said: "Currently no central database of poultry flocks exists. The aim of the register is to gather essential information about birds on commercial premises across Great Britain so we can build up a better picture of the size, type and proximity of flocks.

"We do not want to create more government red tape. This should be seen as an essential disease prevention measure. The information on this register will help us improve our contingency planning to help manage any potential disease outbreak."

National Farmer's Union Poultry Board Chairman Charles Bournes said "This register will enhance already existing contingency measures and it has our full support. Commercial poultry keepers must register their birds at the earliest possible time to ensure our valuable industry is best placed to deal with any potential disease outbreak."

A spokesman for the National Gamekeepers Organisation said "We fully support the establishment of the poultry register. Sensible planning is a good thing, and this register is low on bureaucracy, but high on security".