Minister Heydon announces the lifting of the avian influenza poultry biosecurity regulations
- Published on: 27 May 2025
- Last updated on: 27 May 2025
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has announced the lifting of the biosecurity regulations for poultry which were introduced in December 2024 due to the risk of avian influenza. The avian influenza (biosecurity measures) regulations (SI 666/2024) will be revoked with effect from 31 May 2025.
The Minister said:
“As we move into the summer, the risk of an avian influenza outbreak in our poultry is lower than it was over the colder winter months. It is appropriate now to lift the regulations which had made strict biosecurity measures compulsory to protect Irish poultry. These biosecurity actions are still best practice and I strongly advise anyone with poultry, whether a large farm or a few backyard hens, to continue to implement them. There is still a risk, and avian influenza is expected to remain a threat to the Irish poultry sector throughout the year. Biosecurity is the single most effective way to prevent the virus spreading from wild birds into poultry, or between poultry flocks, and must be practised year-round.”
The Minister added:
“I want to praise the huge efforts which have been made across the poultry sector to protect our poultry industry from avian influenza and the serious consequences of an outbreak."
Members of the public are advised not to handle sick or dead wild birds and to report any episodes of sick or dead wild birds to their Regional Veterinary Office or, if outside business hours, to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 or use the department’s Avian Check App.
Further information, including a detailed technical update, is available at gov.ie/birdflu.