Bird flu (avian influenza) movement licences
Use a licence to move poultry, poultry by-products, eggs, material or mammals in, out or within a bird flu disease control zone.
In bird flu disease zones, certain movements of the following are not permitted:
- poultry
- other captive birds
- eggs
- poultry products or materials associated with their keeping
- mammals from or to premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept
This is to control further disease spread.
Some low risk activities or movements are possible, provided that all conditions of the general licence are met by the person responsible. If it is not possible to meet the conditions, or if the activity or movement is not covered by a general licence, you can apply for a specific licence.
Check what zone you’re in on the bird flu disease zone map.
Find all bird flu cases and disease control zones in England.
General licences
General licences allow a movement or activity that would otherwise be prohibited in a bird flu disease control zone.
General licences are not applicable for the movement of anything onto or from premises which have been served a restriction notice by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Meat from poultry within a protection zone in England and Wales
To reduce animal health risks, food business operators have to follow specific rules for any meat produced from poultry or farmed game birds originating within a protection zone. Other poultry meat (from poultry not originating within the protection zone) is unaffected.
Meat produced from poultry or farmed game birds originating within a protection zone can be moved or sold, subject to several conditions. These include a requirement that the health mark is replaced with a specific mark which must remain with it throughout any processing or repackaging.
Under some specific circumstances – set out in General Licence EXD 264(HPAI)(EW) – the recipient of poultry meat is permitted to remove the specific mark temporarily for production, and in some circumstance not to re-apply it.
Designated slaughterhouses
Slaughterhouses that can slaughter poultry from a highly pathogenic avian influenza disease control zone under licence.
If you are slaughtering on-farm, your premises must be designated. Read guidance for on-farm slaughter facilities.
You will need to apply for a specific licence to move birds to designated on-farm slaughter facilities, even though they are within your premises.
Specific licence
A specific licence covers a movement or activity into, within or from a bird flu disease control zone that is prohibited by a declaration, when not covered by a general licence. A specific licence will normally allow a one-off movement and will be subject to strict conditions based on disease control risk.
Premises need a valid biosecurity report to receive day old chicks or live birds moved under a specific movement licence.