Hold a bird gathering in England

You cannot hold bird gatherings of poultry, galliforme or anseriforme birds in England. This includes ducks, geese, swans, pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkeys and guinea fowl.

GatheringsFor of all other types of birdsbirds, are permitted provided you:

• followcan andonly meethold alla the requirements of the captive bird gathering generalif licence
• notifyyou theare Animalnot andin Planta Healthdisease Agencycontrol (APHA)zone of(such theas gatheringa atprotection leastzone 7or dayssurveillance before the eventzone)
• areneed nota inlicence ato diseasehold controla zonegathering

What counts as a bird gathering

Gatherings include (but are not limited to) to):

• bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, fairs
• markets
• shows
• sales
• exhibitions and
• some premises used for dealing or internet sales. In addition, sales
• vehicles used to transport live birds where the birds are brought together from multiple premises (so(known calledas many-to-one‘many-to-one’ or many-to-many‘many-to-many’ activities) are also considered gatherings.

What activities do not count as gatherings

The following activities are not classed as bird gatherings:

• birds which are brought together from different locations, but where no birds leave until more than 14 days have passed since the last bird arrived on the premises
• an activity where all of the birds have come from the same premises and then return to that same premises afterwards
• a sale of birds which have all come from the same single premises (for example, a dispersal sale or ‘re-homing’) even if the birds go to multiple new locations

You can read about what counts as a bird gathering in the notes section of the licence.

How to hold a bird gathering in England

You cannot hold a bird gathering with poultry, galliforme or anseriforme birds anywhere in England.

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• you controlapply zonesfor birda gatheringsspecific areratite onlylicence permittedat underleast the10 Aviandays Influenzabefore (Preventiveyou Measures)plan (England)to Regulationshold (S.I.the 2006/2701) if licensed. 

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• APHA has publishedgrants ayou captivethe birdspecific gathering general licence effectiveand fromyou 15:00follow onits 7conditions

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• follow galliformethe birds,conditions anseriforme birdsin andthe poultry,other providedcaptive theybird havegathering beengeneral notifiedlicence 
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PigeonIf you’re racing pigeons from Northern Ireland and the EU to England, you also needsneed to comply with the EU regulations for the export of captive birds.

HowNotify to notify APHA of a bird gathering

In England you must notify APHA byat callingleast 7 days before a bird gathering of other captive birds. You do not need to notify APHA if you have been issued a specific licence for a bird gathering of ratites.

Telephone the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 choosingand choose the relevant options for APHA at least 7 days before a bird gathering..

You’ll need to provide the following information:

• date (or range of dates) of the gathering
• location of gathering (full postal address and postcode, and county parish holding (CPH) number (if applicable)applicable))
• types and numbers of birds expected
• purpose of the gathering (for example, show, sale or racing)
• your name, address and contact phone number, and an email address and mobile number

APHA will notify the local authority about the gathering on your behalf.

Keep records for 3 months

You must keep records of bird gatherings for at least 3 months after each event, including:

• name, address and contact number of anyone moving birds to and from the gathering
• types and numbers of birds exhibited, raced, transported, bought or sold at the gathering

APHA or the local authority may ask you for this information. Consult the general licence conditions for definitive requirements on taking and retaining records of bird gathering.

Enforcement

Non-complianceFollow withthe thisconditions generalof your licence

By constituteslaw anyou offencemust undermeet the Avianconditions Influenzalisted (Preventivein Measures)your (England)licence Regulationsat (S.I.the 2006/2701)bird andgathering.

The generalLocal licenceAuthorities isAnimal enforcedHealth inFunction coordination(LAAHF) work with APHA byto Localcheck Authoritiesthat Animalbird Healthgatherings Functionmeet (their licence conditions. The LAAHF), which is normally part of the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service of a local authority.authority.  

If a bird gathering is breaking the law, you can report this to your LAAHF. Use the postcode tool to find details of how to contact your LAAHF.

Risk withof anybird reportsflu of(avian non-compliance.

Notifiableinfluenza) avianat diseasebird riskgatherings

The status of the bird gatheringsgathering generallicences licence will be kept under regular review as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of notifiable avian disease.disease.  

Defra Anywill make any decisions on amending or withdrawing the generallicences licence will be based on risk assessments containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice.advice. 

Defra could withdraw or amend the bird gatherings generallicences licence immediately if the risk of notifiable avian disease risk increases.

You Furthercan find further information on the latest disease situation canfor be found on the avian influenza, Newcastle disease and paramyxovirus guidance.