Bird flu: Minister to lift housing order for poultry
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has today (Tuesday, April 29) announced the lifting of the compulsory housing order for poultry and captive birds.
The minister introduced the order in February to protect the birds during the higher risk period for avian influenza (bird flu).
The housing order will be revoked with effect from Saturday, May 10, 2025.
Commenting on the decision, Minister Heydon said:
“The risk of avian influenza to our poultry is no longer as high as it had been in recent months, so it is now appropriate to lift the housing order and prohibition on the assembly of live birds.
"I want to acknowledge the hard work and cooperation from the Irish poultry industry in recent months, with farmers, vets, processors and others all working together to reduce the chances of an outbreak which could have had such serious consequences.
"It is important to note that avian influenza is still a risk and will remain a threat to Irish poultry for the foreseeable future.”
Minister Heydon also emphasised the ongoing importance of biosecurity when it comes to guarding against bird flu.
“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," he said.
The biosecurity regulations introduced on December 6, 2024 continue to remain in force.
These are precautionary measures to reduce the risk of transmission of bird flu to poultry in Ireland.
No outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been detected in poultry inIreland during 2024 or 2025 (to date).
However, the confirmation in Northern Ireland of three bird flu outbreaks on commercial poultry farms and one in captive birds, along with the continued circulation of the virus in wild birds across the island, shows that the risk to poultry flocks in Ireland remains high.
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.
If outside business hours, the public is asked to contact the National Disease Emergency Hotline on 01 492 8026 or use the department’s avian check app.
