Bird flu: rules in disease control zones in England
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-06)

Find bird flu disease control zones and the rules you must follow in each zone.

Check what zone you’re in on the bird flu disease zone map (https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8cb1883eda5547c6b91b5d5e6aeba90d).

Rules in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ)

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) is in an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ). By law you must follow strict biosecurity and hygiene rules, including:
- keep ducks and geese separate from other birds
- prevent contact with wild birds and rodents
- clean housing, equipment, vehicles and footwear
- keep records of bird movements, deaths and eggs
- additional rules if you keep more than 500 birds
- additional rules for game bird rearers and shoot operators
Follow the rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading).

Follow additional rules if you keep game birds (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-rules-if-you-keep-game-birds).

In England: check if you must house your birds

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

If you have more than 50 birds you must house them. This applies to all types of birds.

If you keep less than 50 birds and they are for your own use only (for example you do not sell or give away their eggs or meat), you do not have to house them.

If you keep less than 50 birds but you do sell or give away their eggs, poultry products or live birds, you must house them. These birds are known as ‘poultry’.

Find out how to house your birds safely (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-housing-your-birds-safely).

Rules in bird flu disease control zones

By law, you must follow the rules for the disease control zone that you’re in.

If bird flu is suspected, 3km and 10km temporary control zones may be put in place around the infected premises.

If bird flu is confirmed, disease control zones are put in place around the premises to stop it spreading.

When a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (the most serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, one of the following controls are put in place around the infected premises:
- a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone
- a 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone
When a case of low pathogenic avian influenza (the less serious type of bird flu) has been confirmed in poultry or other captive birds, a 1km restricted zone may be put in place around the infected premises.

Sometimes larger zones are put in place to reduce the risk of bird flu spreading.

There are specific rules for each disease control zone. You can find these in the declarations on the disease cases and control zones finder (https://www.gov.uk/animal-disease-cases-england).

Disease control zones continue to apply until they’re withdrawn or amended by a further declaration. Disease control zones are only lifted when all the disease control and surveillance activities within the zone have been completed.

In all disease control zones, you must:
- follow the biosecurity rules to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-how-to-prevent-it-and-stop-it-spreading)
- keep a record of anyone that transports or markets poultry or poultry eggs (there are exemptions for table eggs)
- follow the rules for marking, sourcing, cutting, transporting and storing fresh meat and meat products (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bird-flu-avian-influenza-movement-licences)
- comply with any biosecurity rules imposed by a veterinary inspector
- not organise or attend bird gatherings (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-gatherings-licences) (including bird fairs, markets, shows, sales, exhibitions and some premises used for dealing or internet sales)
- follow additional rules if you keep game birds (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-rules-if-you-keep-game-birds), including not releasing them
3km protection zones and 3km temporary control zones

In 3km protection zones and 3km temporary control zones, you must:
- follow the rules for 10km surveillance zones and 10km temporary control zones
- keep poultry and other captive birds housed - find out how to house them safely (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-housing-your-birds-safely)
- follow the instructions from your veterinary inspector to dispose of any bird carcasses
- not spread poultry litter, manure or slurry, or remove them from your premises
- not move poultry or other captive birds onto or off your premises without a licence (there are exceptions for pets)
- not move eggs without a licence (you can move table eggs to wholesale or retail premises to be sold directly to consumers)
- not move poultry meat inside or outside the zone, unless you follow the rules in the case declaration (https://www.gov.uk/animal-disease-cases-england)
Apply for a licence to move eggs or poultry meat (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bird-flu-avian-influenza-movement-licences).

10km surveillance zones, 10km temporary control zones and 10km restricted zones

If you’re in a 10km surveillance zone or a 10km temporary control 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
Apply for a licence to move poultry, other captive birds, or mammals (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bird-flu-avian-influenza-movement-licences).

Captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone

If you’re in a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone, you must:
- keep poultry and other captive birds housed - find out how to house them safely (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/bird-flu-avian-influenza-housing-your-birds-safely)
- keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold
What happens if you do not follow the rules

You will put your birds at risk of bird flu and they may die.

Bird flu could spread to other premises and areas.

You may also be fined and spend up to 6 months in prison.

If you think someone is not following the rules you should report them to the Local Authority Animal Health Function in Trading Standards (https://www.tradingstandards.uk/consumer-help/).

Sign up for animal disease alerts

To keep up to date with the latest information you can sign up for animal disease alerts from APHA (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apha-alert-subscription-service).