Alert: New biosecurity regulations to protect against Avian Influenza take effect today

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced the introduction of biosecurity regulations which will require all flock keepers to apply specific biosecurity measures for poultry and other captive birds.

These measures will come into effect on Saturday, November 1, and are designed to prevent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in poultry and captive birds.

The decision follows the increasing risk to poultry and captive birds during the higher-risk period for avian influenza, due to increased inward migration of wild waterfowl who are the natural reservoirs of avian influenza viruses.

Forty-one wild birds have tested positive to HPAI in the first nine months of 2025, and outbreaks of HPAI have been reported this month in a large poultry flock in Omagh and in a captive bird flock in Co Cork.

“These events highlight that there is a significant risk to Irish poultry and captive bird flocks, which is increasing substantially as winter approaches due to the seasonal migration of wild birds to Ireland. In addition, as temperatures decrease, the virus can survive for longer periods at lower temperatures,” Minister Heydon said.