Hold a bird gathering in England

YouIf cannotyou holdare birdnot gatherings of galliforme or anseriforme birds in England.a Thisdisease includescontrol ducks,zone geese, swans,(such pheasants,as partridge,a quail,protection chickens,zone turkeysor andsurveillance guineazone) fowl.

Foryou other types of birds, you:can:  

• canapply onlyfor hold a birdspecific gatheringlicence ifto youhold are not in a diseasegathering controlof zonepoultry  
• follow (suchthe asconditions ain protectionthe zonegeneral or surveillance zone)
• need a licence to hold a gathering of other captive birds

Check what zone you’re in on the interactive map.

What counts as a bird gathering

Gatherings involve the collecting together of poultry or other captive birds. They include (but are not limited to):

• bird fairs
• markets
• shows
• sales
• exhibitions
• some premises used for dealing or internet sales
• vehicles used to transport live birds where the birds are brought together from multiple premises (known as ‘many-to-one’ or ‘many-to-many’ activities)
• the bringing together of birds, or incubating eggs that are close to hatching, from more than one premises where they will return to the same or different premises

What activities do not count as gatherings

The following activities are not classed as bird gatherings:

• birds which are brought together from different locations,locations onto one premises, but where no birds leave that premises 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

How to hold a bird gathering in England

Poultry

You cannotcan holdapply for a birdspecific licence to hold a gathering withof galliformepoultry orin anseriformeEngland birdsif anywhereyou are not in England.

Ratitesa disease control zone (such as ostriches,a emusprotection andzone rheas)

or surveillance zone). 

YouAPHA can holdonly agrant bird gathering licences if the gathering and the transport of ratitesbirds into Englandand if: from it would not significantly increase the risk of the spread of bird flu.

• Check you can meet licence conditions 

  APHA will complete an individual risk assessment for each application. Based on this, licences that are notgranted inwill include conditions to mitigate (reduce) the risks.  

  Before you apply, you should check you will be able to meet the template licence conditions at your bird gathering.

  For example, if your event needs less risk mitigation, your licence conditions could include: 

  • the presence of a diseasenamed controlpoultry zoneexpert (suchat asyour gathering 
  • all birds or hatching eggs must originate from a protectionpremises zonein England 
  • birds or surveillancehatching zone) eggs having not attended another event within the last 14 days 
  • youhandwashing applyfacilities forbeing aavailable specificat ratitethe event  
  • following waste disposal requirements 
  • cleansing and disinfection of facilities 

  If your event needs more risk mitigation, your licence atconditions leastcould 10include daysadditional beforemeasures yousuch planas:  

  • the presence of a veterinary surgeon on site who inspects all birds prior to holdentry to the gathering   gathering 
  • APHAthe grantsgathering youis not within 50m of livestock 
  • sales of birds or hatching eggs are not permitted at the specificevent 
  • the licencebirds andor youhatching followeggs itsmust conditionsreturn to the premises of origin  

  To increase the chances of being issued a specific licence, every effort should be made to minimise the risk associated with the event. For example, only including lower-risk species and limiting the number of birds or premises represented.

  Other captive birds

  You can hold a bird gathering of other captive birds if you:  

  • are not in a disease control zone (such as a protection zone or surveillance zone) 
  • follow the conditions in the other captive bird gathering general licence 
  • notify APHA of the gathering at least 7 days before the event

  If

• do you’renot holdinghave agalliforme birdor gatheringanseriforme of other captive birds, youchicks cannot have galliforme or anseriforme hatching eggs,eggs chicksthat orare birdsclose to hatching at your bird gathering.gathering For– example,unless you cannot have poultryalso chicksbeen atgranted a falconryspecific displaylicence -for this would be considered a poultry gatheringbird and is banned in England.
  gatherings

If you’re racing pigeons from Northern Ireland and the EU to England, you also need to comply with the EU regulations for the export of captive birds.

Notify APHA of a bird gathering

In England you must notify APHA at least 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 and choose the relevant options for APHA.

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))
• 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 licence conditions for definitive requirements on taking and retaining records of bird gathering.

Follow the conditions of your licence

By law you must meet the conditions listed in your licence at the bird gathering.

The Local Authorities Animal Health Function (LAAHF) work with APHA to check that bird gatherings meet their licence conditions. The LAAHF is normally part of the Trading Standards or Environmental Health Service of a local 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 of bird flu (avian influenza) at bird gatherings

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

Defra will will make any decisions on granting, amending or withdrawing licences based on the licencesmost willup beto baseddate oninformation about the risk assessmentsof containingbird flu transmission which is available to Defra, including the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice. advice.  

Defra could could withdraw or amend thea bird gatherings licenceslicence immediatelywith immediate effect if the risk of notifiable avian disease increases.

You can find further information on the latest disease situation for avian influenza, Newcastle disease and paramyxovirus guidance.