Mandatory housing measures for all poultry have come into force across England in an attempt to control avian influenza, which is causing unprecedented harm to the poultry industry and wild bird populations across the country.
The order means that all bird keepers must house their birds, whatever their type or size.
There have been 97 confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in England since 1 October 2022.
There have been 231 cases of (HPAI) H5N1 in England since the H5N1 outbreak started in October 2021.
Under EU poultry meat marketing regulations, keepers who are required by government to house their birds can retain their free-range status provided birds have spent a minimum of half their lifetime with either access to outside areas or housed during the fixed 12-week grace period.
If birds are housed for longer than half their lifetimes outside of the 12-week grace period, they can no longer be marketed as free-range.
Egg producers required to keep their hens housed will retain their free-range status for 16 weeks.
The NFU has welcomed the housing order. NFU poultry board chair James Mottershead said: “As poultry producers, the health and welfare of our birds is our number one priority, and these housing measures alongside the existing additional biosecurity requirements will help minimise the impact of avian influenza on the poultry sector.
“These measures apply to all poultry keepers, whether you have one hen in the garden or a large poultry business, and I urge everyone to remain vigilant.”