New registration rules for bird keepers have been announced in a bid to tackle avian flu outbreaks.
Keepers will be required to register on the new Scottish Kept Bird Register from September.
Exemptions will apply for certain species that are kept at home.
The changes impose new requirements for all bird keepers - regardless of the size of their flock - to officially register their birds. Currently only those who keep 50 or more poultry must do so, limiting the effectiveness of national disease control measures.
Information sought from bird keepers will include their contact details, the location where birds are kept and details of the birds such as species, number and their use.
The new rules cover owners of garden and backyard flocks, birds of prey and pigeon fanciers.
But pet birds such as a parrot, canary or budgie - excluding any poultry species - will not be affected provided they are always kept in a cage inside a domestic dwelling, and never leave the property other than to visit a vet or another short-term period.
By registering their birds, keepers will receive important updates relevant to them, such as about local avian disease outbreaks and biosecurity information to help protect their flocks.
This will help to manage potential disease outbreaks, such as avian influenza and Newcastle disease, and limit any spread said the government.
The information on the register will also be used to identify all bird keepers in disease control zones, allowing for more effective surveillance, so that zones can be lifted at the earliest possible opportunity and trade can resume more quickly following an outbreak of avian disease in Great Britain.
The changes come following the UK’s worst ever outbreak of avian influenza, with more than 360 cases across Great Britain since late October 2021, including in a significant number of backyard flocks.
Christine Middlemiss, UK chief veterinary officer said: “These new rules will enable us to have a full picture of the number and location of birds kept across Great Britain, making it easier to track and manage the spread of avian disease.
“This information will be vital in helping to inform future risk assessments and maintain our commitment to continually building our extensive avian influenza research portfolio.”
Sheila Voas, Scotland's chief veterinary officer, highlighted the changes are a “necessary step to help protect the health of kept birds and the general public from future avian disease risks.
“We have faced challenges during previous outbreaks in clearly communicating the changes in both risk and mandatory biosecurity requirements to bird keepers, particularly smallholders and backyard keepers.
“This approach will enable us all to be better prepared and protected against a future pandemic.”
The requirements will be set out in legislation shortly and keepers will also be legally required to update their information on an annual basis.
The Scottish Government will launch the new online register from 1 September 2024 - one month earlier than under similar rules south of the border. It said the registration process will take no more than several minutes for those with less than 50 birds. Bird keepers will have three months to register from that date. An alternative method of registering by telephone will also be available.
Avian flu: New rules mean even a single hen kept in a garden must be registered with government
21 March 2024
