SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, is reminding owners that some birds must be registered.
Shadow Health Minister, Mr Rowlands said: “I would like to remind people that the new measures to better protect the poultry sector from future avian influenza outbreaks comes into force on October 1st and from next month certain birds, even those kept as pets, will need to be registered.
“The new law is aimed to help to protect future potential outbreaks of diseases such as Avian Flu and Newcastle disease which can be quite devastating.
“It will also help to limit any spread of the disease.”
The new legislation will help manage potential disease outbreaks in the future and the information on the register will also be used to identify all bird keepers in disease control zones.
This will allow more effective surveillance, so that zones can be lifted as early as possible and trade can start again more quickly following an outbreak of Avian disease in Great Britain.
Keepers will also receive important relevant to them which will help manage outbreaks and limit any spread of disease.
Bird Keepers in England and Wales who are currently registered are not required to re-register. Also keepers of birds such as parrots, cockatiels, budgerigars, jays and finches do not need to register if their birds are housed on the premises fully within a dwelling or within a bird house with no access to open air or outdoor spaces.
For more information go to gov.uk website.
