THE Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency has lifted strict bird flu restrictions imposed on the Crediton area on November 3.

They said on Friday, December 12: “Following successful completion of disease control activities and surveillance in the zone around and near Crediton, Mid Devon, Devon (AIV2025/84), the protection zone has ended and the area that formed it becomes part of the surveillance zone.”

It was on November 3 that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)(HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a large commercial poultry unit near Crediton.

A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone was declared around the premises.

All poultry on the premises were humanely culled, a great loss to the business.

Disease control restrictions affected not only the business and poultry owners within the zones but also prevented gatherings of poultry, release of game, isolation of poultry and other captive birds.

If you’re in a 10km surveillance zone, you must:

• keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except table eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers

• not move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals (including pigs) to or from premises where poultry or other captive birds are kept without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)

• not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises.

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ). By law you must follow strict biosecurity and hygiene rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading.

In the AIPZ in England and Wales there are mandatory housing measures which mean you may have to house your birds.

Stay updated regarding bird flu through the GOV.UK website.