To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) for his assessment of the recent outbreak of avian influenza and the threat it poses to the Northern Ireland poultry industry; and (ii) to detail the financial safety nets in place to support any farmers who experience an outbreak.

In recent weeks, a significant surge of avian influenza cases has been seen across Great Britain (GB) and the figures continue to rise on a daily basis. Since 1 October 2022 there have been over 60 cases of HPAI H5N1 in poultry and captive birds across GB.

HPAI H5N1 has also been confirmed in captive birds at Castle Espie, Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT). A 3km disease control zone has been put in place and my officials are working closely with WWT representatives on the disease control measures required. There have also been over 50 wild birds detected with HPAI H5N1 from across Northern Ireland (NI) in recent months.

An outbreak of bird flu will have a devastating impact on farmers and their families, not to mention the wider impacts on the NI poultry flock and international trade. As a precautionary step to help protect the NI poultry flock, an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) has been declared for all poultry and captive birds across NI from noon on 17 October 2022. 7.The AIPZ places a legal requirement on all bird keepers in NI to follow strict biosecurity measures. This applies if you keep pet birds, commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard or hobby flock.

In relation to compensation The Disease of Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (the Order) provides that DAERA will pay compensation at current market value for all birds culled, at the Department’s direction, to mitigate against the risk of avian influenza spread from an infected premises.