Statutory guidance

General licence for the movement of poultry and other captive bird carcasses for disposal from premises in a protection zone or surveillance zone in England or Wales (EXD339(HPAI)(EW))

Updated 5 December 2025

Applies to England and Wales

© Crown copyright 2025

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bird-flu-general-licence-for-the-movement-of-poultry-carcases-for-disposal-from-premises-in-a-protection-zone-in-england-exd339hpaie/general-licence-for-the-movement-of-poultry-and-other-captive-bird-carcasses-for-disposal-from-premises-in-a-protection-zone-or-surveillance-zone-in-e

General licence for the movement of poultry and other captive bird carcases for disposal from premises within a protection zone or surveillance zone in England or Wales (EXD339(HPAI)(EW)) 

This licence permits, subject to compliance with the conditions set out below, the direct movement of poultry or other captive bird carcases for disposal from premises in a protection zone or a surveillance zone to other premises within or outside the zone within England or Wales. 

This licence only permits movements that are otherwise prohibited by a declaration issued in response to an outbreak of H5NX, where H5NX is any strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of clade 2.3.4.4b, for example H5N1, H5N5. It does not permit movements prohibited by a declaration issued in response to an outbreak of any other strain of HPAI. 

This licence is valid from 15:40 on 4 December 2025 until it is suspended or revoked in writing and revokes and replaces the EXD539(HPAI)(EW) licence that came into force at 15:52 on 18 February 2025.  

This licence has been issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Welsh Government and it applies to England and Wales only. 

Signed: Karim Hachimi Veterinary Inspector 

Date: 4 December 2025 Time: 15:40 

Veterinary Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers. 

Legislation  

This general licence is issued in accordance with: 

  • paragraphs 14 and 16 of Schedule 4, and paragraph 8A of Schedule 5, to the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) 
  • paragraphs 14 and 16 of Schedule 4, and paragraph 8A of Schedule 5, to the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No. 2) Order 2006 (as amended) 
  • article 2(1) of the Animals (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 1927. 

Conditions of the licence 

1) The move must be directly to the disposal premises following the collection of the final carcase.  

2) Multiple pick-ups of carcasses are permitted only when all premises are located within the same Protection Zone (PZ) or Surveillance Zone (SZ) of origin. Movement between these zones (from SZ to PZ or vice versa) to collect carcasses is not allowed 

3) Poultry and other captive bird carcases may only be moved for disposal, by the means of disposal prescribed for Category 1 material or Category 2 material by Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (assimilated law). Disposal of carcases must be by the means of disposal and use permitted by Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (assimilated law) for the relevant category of material. The derogation in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (assimilated law) enabling the use of Category 2 animal by-products in the feeding of any animals does not apply to these carcases.  

4) Immediately prior to each movement or removal of poultry or other captive bird carcases the licensee must inspect the birds on the premises to check that they show no clinical signs that could be associated with avian influenza.  

5) The licensee must notify APHA within 24 hours of the inspection to confirm that the inspection has been carried out and that the birds on the premises showed no clinical signs that could be associated with avian influenza. The notification must include the consignor’s name and address, the destination disposal centre and the date and results of the inspection. The notification can be made by email to Outbreak.Licensing@apha.gov.uk or in writing to:

The Licensing Team
APHA
Level One, County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP

6) The licensee must ensure that:

a. the vehicle used to transport the poultry or other captive bird carcases must be leak proof and covered. There must also be a spill kit available in the vehicle during transport in case of any spillage.  

b. the collection vehicle should not be taken beyond the perimeter of the premises where carcases are collected (where possible) and should not pass over any surface that could possibly be contaminated with mud, slurry, animal faeces, excretions, feathers, litter, eggshell or other similar matter liable to transmit disease. The transfer of the carcases should be at the perimeter of the premises.  

c. the vehicle’s wheels and wheel arches must be cleansed and disinfected before leaving each premises from which a carcase has been collected. The cleansing and disinfection after loading must take place at a point beyond which no contamination with mud, slurry, animal faeces, feathers, litter, eggshell or any similar matter can take place. 

d. any equipment and any potentially contaminated surfaces must be cleansed and disinfected before leaving each premises where carcases have been collected. 

7) After unloading at the disposal premises, the licensee must ensure that:  

  • the parts of the vehicle and any equipment used to transport anything which might be contaminated with mud, slurry, animal faeces, excretions, feathers or any other similar matter must be cleansed and disinfected on site.  
  • the vehicle’s wheels and wheel arches must be cleansed and disinfected after unloading and before leaving the destination premises.  

8) The licensee must ensure that any person(s) involved in this movement:  

  • does not enter or leave any poultry or captive bird premises wearing clothing or footwear which is visibly soiled with mud, poultry or bird faeces or any similar matter 
  • cleanses and disinfects their footwear before entering or leaving any premises or place where poultry or captive birds were present  
  • removes any disposable clothing before leaving a poultry or captive bird premises and does not reuse it at further premises  
  • ensures non disposable clothing is clean and free of all visible contamination before leaving a poultry or captive bird premises 
  • takes all other reasonable precautions to avoid transferring mud, slurry, animal faeces, excretions, feathers or any other similar matter between poultry and captive bird premises  

9) Any areas of the premises from which the carcases have been moved must be cleansed and disinfected using government approved disinfectants and in accordance with Article 66 of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) Order in England or Article 66 of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) in Wales.  

10) When moving anything under the authority of a licence granted under the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) or the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended), a person must carry a consignment note. The consignment note must include the:  

  • quantity of poultry or other bird carcases being moved  
  • date of the movement  
  • name of the consignor 
  • address of the premises from which the carcases have been moved 
  • registration of the collecting vehicle 
  • name of the consignee 
  • address of the disposal premises 

Explanatory notes 

1) A record of the movement including the registration of any vehicle used must be made by the occupier of the source premises as soon as is reasonably practicable after the movement and retained for at least six weeks from the date the movement was completed, as required by Article 74 of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) in England or Article 74 of the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) in Wales. 

2) A person moving poultry or other captive bird carcases under authority of a licence granted under the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) or the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) must, if asked to do so by an inspector or other officer of the Secretary of State or Welsh Ministers, give their name and address, produce the consignment note and allow copies or extracts to be taken. 

3) If the activity that you wish to undertake is not covered by this licence, or if you are unable to comply with any of the terms and conditions which apply to the use of this licence, then you will need to apply for a specific licence. 

4) Where the use of a disinfectant is required under this licence, it must be used at the correct concentration, allow adequate contact time and the disinfectant must be approved under the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (England) Order 2007(as amended) in England or the Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Wales) Order 2007(as amended) in Wales. 

5) If you suspect notifiable disease, you must report this immediately:  

  • England - Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301  
  • Wales – APHA on 0300 303 8268  

6) The authority to move poultry or other captive bird carcases under this licence does not apply to premises under Notice as Infected, Contact or Suspect Premises.  

7) A carcase may only be moved by a collector registered under the requirements of Article 23 of Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 (assimilated law relating to animal by-products) unless operating from a premises approved under Article 24 of that Regulation. Any vehicle used to transport a carcase under this licence must comply with the relevant provisions of the Animal By-Products (England)(Enforcement) Regulations 2013 (as amended) in England or Animal By-Products (Wales)(Enforcement) Regulations 2014 (as amended) in Wales 

8) The destination premises must be approved in accordance with Article 24 of assimilated law Regulation (EC) No.1069/2009. 

9) This licence does not apply to movements to or from any premises which has been served a restriction notice by a veterinary inspector. 

10) Further information is available on fallen stock and safe disposal of dead animals.

11) All bird keepers must keep a close watch on their birds for signs of disease and maintain good biosecurity at all times. If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, seek prompt advice from your vet. at all times. If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, seek prompt advice from your vet. 

12) For further details of legislation covering avian influenza in:

Failure to observe the measures required in this licence is an offence under Section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981. The penalty on conviction of an offence under this section is a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Level 5 on the standard scale or both. 

Contact us 

If you have any queries regarding this general licence, contact APHA.

Include your name, full address and telephone number so we can ensure your enquiry is routed to the correct area expert.

Back to top