News item | 01-07-2025 | 13:00
The obligation to withdraw and shield for poultry is also lifted in the Gelderse Valley. The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) has decided this on the basis of a new assessment of the expert group of animal diseases. With this decision, the national measure will be completely lapsed. The exhibition ban for risk birds is also relaxed. The new measures will start from Friday, July 4, 2025.
The expert group of animal diseases estimates the chance of infection of a poultry farm in the currently as low to moderate. The last bird flu infection on a Dutch poultry farm was on March 19, 2025. There have also been few infections on poultry farms in other European countries in recently and the number of wild birds infected is also low.
The expert group of animal diseases regularly meets to give a risk assessment about the bird flu situation. Based on this risk assessment and other interests, such as the (economic) consequences of the measures for poultry farmers and hobby holders, Minister Wiersma (LVVN) has decided to also lift the obligation to withdraw and protect them in the Gelderse Vallei. This was the only region where the lifting and shielding was still in force.
Relaxation exhibition ban for risk birds
Since November 2024, there was a national ban on exhibiting risk birds, such as fowls, water birds and walking birds. A heavy measure for hobby breeders, because inspections on exhibitions are important for the preservation of these often rare bird varieties. The minister now allows organizing exhibitions again, but under strict conditions. These conditions are, for example, that no more than 30 holders may participate in an event at the same time and that water birds are not at an event at the same time as other risk birds. All conditions can be found on Friday, July 4, 2025 at Animal sickness And the scheme.
Keep alert
The bird flu virus is still present at wild birds and the course of the infections with the virus is unpredictable. For that reason, the Ministry of LVVN continues to keep a close eye on the situation. It is also important that poultry farmers and holders of other bird species remain alert, observe the safety and hygiene measures and report possible suspicions to the National Reporting Center for Animal Diseases. If the situation changes, this may be a reason to reset measures.