Registering a racing pigeon loft to move pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland for a race
How to register a racing pigeon loft in England and Wales to move pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland for racing back to Great Britain.
Applies to England and Wales
You need to register your pigeon loft if you want to move racing pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland for immediate release for racing back to Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales).
If you register your pigeon loft, you do not need to register separately as a birdkeeper.
Once you have registered your loft, an official veterinarian (OV) can certify the export health certificate (certificate: 8465) to confirm that your racing pigeons can move for this purpose.
If your loft is in Scotland, read the guidance on how to register on the Scottish Government website.
Who can register
You can register if you are a keeper of a racing pigeon loft in England or Wales.
If your loft has a number of owners only one will need to register.
Once your loft is registered, you or anyone wanting to move racing pigeons from your loft to the EU or Northern Ireland can do so using:
- the county parish holding (CPH) number of your loft
- a copy of a signed racing pigeon loft declaration
Registration requirements
To register your loft, you must meet the relevant requirements set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692.
This regulation requires that:
- all pigeons, not just those racing, are vaccinated against Newcastle disease every year in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions
- pigeons are not vaccinated against avian influenza
- you have registered with a private veterinary practice
- you have at least one veterinary visit every year
- you keep records of veterinary visits, vaccination status, sales, deaths and additions for at least 3 years and make them available for inspection, on request
You must also comply with the rules set out in the relevant export health certificate (certificate: 8465). The export health certificate will confirm that the racing pigeons meet the health requirements of the EU and Northern Ireland.
Vet visits
Your yearly veterinary visit will need to include an assessment of signs of the occurrence of diseases notifiable and reportable in Great Britain relevant to captive birds. This includes diseases listed in Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692.
Vet visits can be recorded on the model attestation form.
They can also be recorded on vet’s headed note paper or email. You must make sure the record includes a statement equivalent to that on the model attestation form.
Vaccinate pigeons against Newcastle disease
You can find information on the Newcastle disease vaccines you can use for pigeons in the UK on the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) Product Information Database.
To search the database using its search page:
- Select pigeon in the ‘species’ list.
- Type Newcastle disease in the ‘Active Substance’ tab.
- Select ‘Run search’ to find which vaccines have been approved by the VMD for use in the UK.
Registering your loft
There are 2 steps to registration. You must complete both steps.
Step 1: Get a county parish holding (CPH) number
You need a CPH number if you want to move racing pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland for racing back to Great Britain. The CPH number is a unique identification number used in Great Britain.
The first 2 digits of your CPH number will link to the county of your loft, the next 3 to your parish and the last 4 will identify your loft.
Use an existing CPH number
If your loft already has a CPH number issued by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) in England, Rural Payments Wales (RPW) or the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), you do not need to apply for a new one.
You should contact the APHA registration team by:
- phone: 03000 200 301
- email: RacingPigeonsRegistrations@apha.gov.uk
You will need to provide your CPH number and confirm racing pigeons are present at the loft. APHA will update your records.
You can then proceed to step 2 in the registration process.
Apply for a new CPH number
If you do not have a CPH number, you’ll need to register to get a new one for your loft.
In England
If you live in England, you need to apply online for a CPH number.
In Wales
If you live in Wales, use Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online to register for a CPH number.
In Wales CPH numbers are usually issued within 24 hours.
Once you have received your CPH number, you must contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) registration team to:
- provide your CPH number
- confirm racing pigeons are present at the pigeon loft
Contact the APHA registration team by:
- email: RacingPigeonsRegistrations@apha.gov.uk
- phone: 03000 200 301
Step 2: Complete the racing pigeon loft declaration
Once you have been issued a CPH number for your loft, you need to download, complete and sign the loft declaration.
You need to agree that your loft meets, and will continue to comply with, the requirements set out in the declaration.
You will need to keep a signed copy of the declaration. You may be asked to provide a copy to APHA and the OV as part of an export health certificate application.
Your declaration is valid for 12 months from when you signed it. You will need to sign a new copy of this declaration every 12 months to confirm that you still meet the declaration requirements.
Compliance checks
APHA carry out random compliance checks. If you are selected, you will need to provide:
- a copy of your loft’s signed declaration
- copies of your loft’s records as explained in the declaration form
If you do not provide the required records, APHA can suspend your registration until you can demonstrate compliance. If your records are not complete, you will be asked to provide missing information. If you fail to do this your registration will be suspended.
If your registration is suspended, you will no longer be able to move your pigeons to the EU or Northern Ireland.
Update your details
You need to tell us if any of your details change. Contact:
- the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) on 03000 200 301 for lofts in England
- Rural Payments Wales (RPW) Online via Manage My CPH for lofts in Wales
You must also notify APHA of any changes, and confirm your details and the details of the birds you keep to APHA every 12 months. You can update your kept bird record online or by:
- email: poultryupdates@apha.gov.uk
- phone: 03000 200 301 – lines are open 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday
Suspended racing pigeon lofts
OVs will check if a loft is listed as suspended when a race organiser applies for an export health certificate. If your loft is suspended, officials will not be able to certify the relevant export health certificate (certificate: 8465) for your racing pigeons.
Officials may also check this list when your consignment of racing pigeons arrives at the border control post (BCP) in the EU or point of entry in Northern Ireland.
There are currently no suspended lofts. APHA will publish a list of any suspended racing pigeon lofts.
Get help
If you are in England and have questions regarding the loft declaration you can:
- telephone the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 and choose the relevant options for APHA
- email APHA at customeradvice@apha.gov.uk
If you are in Wales and have questions regarding the loft declaration you can telephone 03000 200 301. This number provides an option for callers to hear the telephone message in Welsh. APHA will try to connect you to a Welsh-speaking colleague.