Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 10/26/2005

**GAIN Report Number:** FR5074

FR5074

**France**

**Sanitary/Phytosanitary/Food Safety**

**Avian Influenza : France Bans Outdoor Raising of Poultry in 21
Regions**

**2005**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Elizabeth B. Berry

U.S. Embassy

**Prepared by:**

Xavier Audran

**Report Highlights:**

The French Ministry of Agriculture announced on October 25 a ban on
outdoor raising of poultry in 21 of 94 regions. These regions are deemed
to be more vulnerable because either they are on the path of migratory
birds or they have significant areas of lakes and dormant waters, which
attract waterfowl. Shows and gatherings of live poultry and birds as
well as the use of calling fowl for hunting are also prohibited. Anybody
handling live or dead birds is also reminded to wear gloves. Those
measures are to be enforced until at least December 1st at which time
another risk assessment will be made. The ban on outdoor raising creates
major problems for farmers producing premium free-range poultry. In
France, close to 25 percent of chickens sold on retail markets are
free-range chickens.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Paris \[FR1\]

\[FR\]

Following the confirmation of avian influenza cases in wild birds in
Germany, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries decided to ban
outdoor poultry raising in 21 regions out of 94. Those regions (shown in
the map below) are deemed more vulnerable because either they are on the
path of migratory birds or they have significant areas of lakes and
dormant waters , which attract waterfowl.

> ![](media/image2.png){width="4.59375in" height="4.875in"}01 : Ain
>
> 10 : Aube
>
> 13: Bouches-du-Rhône
>
> 17 : Charente-Maritime
>
> 2B : Haute-Corse (Upper Corsica)
>
> 30 : Gard
>
> 33 : Gironde
>
> 35 : Ille-et-Vilaine
>
> 36 : Indre
>
> 40 : Landes
>
> 44 : Loire-Atlantique
>
> 50 : Manche
>
> 51 : Marne
>
> 52 : Haute-Marne
>
> 54 : Meurthe-et-Moselle
>
> 55 : Meuse
>
> 67 : Bas-Rhin
>
> 68 : Haut-Rhin
>
> 76 : Seine-Maritime
>
> 80 : Somme
>
> 85 : Vendée

For farms where it is neither suitable nor practicable to keep flocks
indoors because of lack of buildings, feed and water must be kept
indoors and extensive surveillance must be undertaken. Any suspicious
death must be immediately reported to the local veterinary authorities.

Any gathering of live poultry and game birds at events such as
agricultural fairs, game fairs, bird exhibitions and bird and poultry
shows is prohibited in France. However, local authorities may allow such
events on a case-by-case basis in places where the risk has been
assessed and deemed minimal.

Use of calling fowl for hunting is also prohibited because of the
increased risk of contact between wild birds and calling fowl. Hunters
are requested to report the sighting of any dead birds to the local
veterinary authorities. Farmers, hunters and anybody handling live or
dead birds are also reminded to wear gloves .

These measures are to be enforced until at least December 1^st^ where
another risk assessment will be undertaken. It is believed that by that
date, most migratory birds will have passed France.

The ban on outdoor raising creates major problems for farmers producing
"Red Label" free-range poultry as well as for those producing premium
Appellation of Origin "Volaille de Bresse" (poultry from the Bresse
region grown specifically in the region of Ain). By law, such poultry
must be raised free-range and it is yet not known if it may continue to
benefit from its Red Label or Appellation because of the new
restrictions. In France, close to 25 percent of chickens sold on retail
markets are Red-Label chickens. Should they be forced to abandon such
high quality labels, farmers may loose up to 50 percent of their selling
price.