France has ordered 80 million doses of avian influenza vaccine, becoming the first European country to do so.
It will begin a vaccination programme this autumn, Marc Fesneau, the minister of agriculture said.
Subject to favourable results of the experimental study conducted on ducks expected in mid-April, a consultation phase is opening with the poultry sector, veterinarians and local authorities to define by the summer an operational vaccination strategy and its implementation methods.
France has faced a severe outbreak of avian influenza this season, with 315 cases since last August. Last December it announced its intention to pursue a strategy of vaccination once trials had demonstrated efficacy.