General licence to arrange a fair, market, show ... - ARCHIVE: Defra

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006
Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003
Commission Decision 2005/734/EC
General licence to arrange a fair, market, show, exhibition
or other gathering involving the collecting together of
poultry or other captive birds
This licence is available for the gathering of poultry and other captive birds under
regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations
2006, subject to the conditions in the Schedule below.
This general licence is made available:
- Following a veterinary risk assessment that has been carried out in
accordance with Article 1(1) and the derogation in Article 2b (2), and the
criteria in Annex I of the Commission Decision 2005/734/EC (as amended).
- As a result of the conclusion of that veterinary risk assessment which has
determined that, so long as the conditions of this licence are complied with,
the transit of birds to and from a gathering will not significantly increase the
risk of the transmission of avian influenza virus.
This general licence may be withdrawn at any time with immediate effect if the
veterinary risk assessment changes with regard to the risk of spread of avian
influenza virus.
For the purposes of this licence:
“gathering” means an occasion at which poultry and/or other captive birds are
brought together:
i).
ii).
at a fair, market, show, sale, or exhibition; or
on or in a vehicle used for pigeon racing.
"other captive bird" means any bird kept in captivity which is not poultry and includes
a pet bird and any bird kept for shows, races, exhibitions, competitions, breeding or
for sale;
"poultry" means all birds that are reared or kept in captivity for the production of meat
or eggs for consumption, the production of other commercial products, for restocking
supplies of game or for the purposes of any breeding programme for the production
of these categories of birds;
"premises" includes any land, vehicle building or place.

Signed by: Rory O’Donnell
For and on behalf of the Secretary of State:
Date: 11 October 2010
Schedule
1. The person arranging the gathering is the licensee and is responsible for
ensuring the conditions in this licence are complied with.
2. The licensee must take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of avian
influenza virus onto, within and off the premises where the gathering is held.
3. The licensee must notify the local Animal Health office for the area in which the
gathering is taking place at least 7 days prior to the event. Notification must
include at least the following information:
a. Date the gathering will take place.
b. Location of the gathering.
c. Details of the licensee (including full name, contact address and
telephone number).
d. Anticipated numbers and type(s) of birds.
Any changes to the information provided at a. b. or c. above, or any significant
changes in d. that occur between notification and the event itself must also be
notified to the local Animal Health office as soon as possible prior to the event.
4. The licensee must make a record of all people who bring poultry or other
captive birds to a gathering or take such birds from a gathering and keep the
record for at least 3 months following the end of the gathering. The record must
include at least the following information:
a. Full name.
b. Home address.
c. Telephone number.
d. Number and type(s) of birds exhibited, raced, bought or sold.
5. The licensee must not allow any cage, crate, basket or other container onto a
gathering which is contaminated with bird droppings, bedding or other material
of bird origin other than that from, or provided for, the birds brought to the
gathering and must make this requirement known to all those bringing birds to
the gathering in advertising, on entry forms or by any other means.

6. The licensee must:
(i) ensure that any feed to which poultry or other captive birds had access,
and all bedding, droppings, other material of bird origin and other
contaminants derived from birds at the gathering and which are left on
the premises when the gathering has ended are—
(a) destroyed;
(b) treated so as to remove the risk of transmission of disease;
(c) disposed of so that birds do not have access to them; or
(d) disposed of as Category 2 products under the Animal By-
Products Regulations 2005.
(ii) where practicable, cleanse and disinfect those parts of the premises
contaminated by such materials.
7. The licensee must ensure that any cages, crates, baskets or other containers
not removed from the premises by those attending the gathering are cleansed
and disinfected as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the
gathering and in any case before they are used again.
Notes
1. If all the poultry and/or other captive birds at the gathering are from the same
premises and return to that premises, this is not defined as a gathering and no
licence is required.
2. “Premises” includes all private or public places, including such places as car
parks, derelict land, and lay-bys. It also includes vehicles, and any reference to
premises in the schedule includes vehicles.
3. In Schedule 6 (ii), cleansing and disinfection should be carried out on paved
areas of the premises and other solid surfaces but may not be appropriate on
non-paved areas – e.g. grass.
4. Article 12 (Racing pigeons) of the Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003
requires that:
“(1) An organiser of a show or race which takes place wholly or partly in
England shall ensure that all racing pigeons entered for the race or show
have been vaccinated against paramyxovirus 1 in pigeons.
(2) Every person who owns or keeps racing pigeons shall keep a record of
every race or show for which he enters his pigeons.”
5. Article 13 (Disinfection) of the Diseases of Poultry (England) Order 2003
requires that:

“(1) The person in charge of premises on which poultry or racing pigeons
are or have been exposed for sale or exhibited shall thoroughly cleanse
and disinfect those premises, their fittings and any receptacle used for the
exposure or exhibition of such birds as soon as practicable after use and in
any event before they are used again.
(2) An inspector may, by notice in writing on the person in charge of any
premises or vehicle on or in which any birds are or have been, require the
person on whom the notice is served to cleanse and disinfect the premises
or vehicle or any fittings or receptacle in such manner as he requires and
prohibit the movement into premises or vehicle of birds until the cleansing
and disinfection has been completed to the satisfaction of the inspector.
(3) Without prejudice to the bringing of proceedings under the Animal
Health Act 1981, where a notice under this article is not complied with, any
person authorised by the Secretary of State or the local authority may
enter the premises or vehicles to which the notice relates and carry out the
work of cleansing and disinfection required and the cost of such work shall
be recoverable from the person on whom the notice was served.
(4) For the purposes of this Order “cleansing” includes the disposal of all
litter, droppings and other matter in a manner which does not present a risk
of the spread of disease.”
6. Disinfectants approved for use against poultry diseases are listed on the Defra
website at:
http://disinfectants.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Location=None&module=Approv
alsList_SI.
7. Anyone in possession of any bird or bird carcase which they suspect may be
infected with avian influenza or Newcastle disease must immediately notify the
duty veterinary officer at their local Animal Health office.
8. If you are bringing birds from other European Union Member States or Third
Countries into England, controls are in place to prevent the import of disease.
Further information on these requirements can be found here.
9. Rules may apply to the transport of birds to gatherings under the Welfare of
Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006 and/or the Transport of Animals
(Cleansing and Disinfection) (England) (No. 3) Order 2003.
10. Contact your local Animal Health office or local authority for further advice on
biosecurity measures and any other legislation that may apply.
11. Non-compliance with this licence constitutes an offence under regulation 20 the
Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations S.I. 2006 No
2701 and on conviction under section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981 a
person may be liable to a fine and/or imprisonment.