IFA welcomes relaxing of bird flu confinement rules

The lifting of a legal requirement to confine or house poultry and other birds as a precautionary measure against Avian Influenza (bird flu) has been welcomed by the Irish Farmers Association.

Legislation requiring the confinement of birds was introduced on December 23 last and the decision to lift the confinement requirement dates from April 25.

No case of bird flu has been confirmed here in wild birds for eight weeks, the numbers of migratory waterfowl is reducing and there are increasing environmental temperatures and daylight hours.