Compliance with biosecurity measures is also required for poultry farms with fewer than 1000 animals in order to protect poultry stocks in Baden-Württemberg by general decree.
"In Baden-Württemberg, there have been 11 cases of avian influenza in wild birds since the beginning of the year. Since September 2021, there have been more than 1900 outbreaks of avian influenza across Germany. In its risk assessment, the Friedrich Löffler Institute (FLI) has classified the risk of entry from wild birds into poultry farms nationwide as 'high' and recommends that biosecurity measures be consistently adhered to. The top priority must now be to protect poultry from infection in order to prevent the further spread of avian influenza. It is therefore necessary to impose the biosecurity measures already in place for holdings with more than 1,000 animals nationwide, including for smaller holdings," said the Minister for Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection, Peter Hauk MdL, on Friday (January 20).
From 21.01.2023, every keeper of chickens, turkeys, guinea fowl, partridges, pheasants, ratites, quails, ducks and geese must therefore comply with a catalog of measures to prevent the introduction of the virus into their livestock. "In addition to securing stable entrances against unauthorized entry, the wearing of protective clothing by persons outside the company and compliance with cleaning and disinfection measures, it is absolutely essential that livestock farmers inform the competent veterinary office immediately if they notice symptoms of illness or unclear deaths in their livestock," appealed Minister Hauk to poultry farmers. These laboratory diagnostic clarification tests are free of charge for farms located in Baden-Württemberg and are to be carried out exclusively in the state testing facilities. The requirement to comply with these biosecurity measures applies indefinitely for the time being.
Wild birds, especially waterfowl, are the natural reservoir for avian influenza pathogens. As the virus currently occurs widely in the wild bird population throughout Germany, it is particularly important to prevent any direct or indirect contact between kept poultry and wild birds as far as possible in order to avoid infection. The imposition of biosecurity measures, which already apply by law to holdings of 1000 animals or more, even for smaller holdings, is an important measure for achieving a uniform and comprehensive level of protection throughout the country.
The Ministry of Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection also points out that small poultry holdings for private purposes must also be reported or registered with the competent veterinary office.
Background information:
The "Radar Bulletin" produced by the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety in collaboration with the Friedrich Löffler Institute (FLI) with information on the international situation and spread of the most important animal diseases urgently recommends that biosecurity measures in poultry holdings be maintained at a high level and, if necessary, further improved. Abnormal behavior and dead birds found in the wild should be reported immediately to the veterinary authorities for recovery and, if necessary, investigation.
The Avian Influenza Ordinance already provides for biosecurity measures for holdings of 1000 animals or more. With the issue of the general ruling on the application of biosecurity measures for poultry or kept birds for preventive purposes dated January 16, 2023, these will also apply to holdings of up to 1000 animals from January 21, 2023.
The general ruling provides for the following biosecurity measures
- Securing the entrances and exits to the stables or the other locations of the birds against unauthorized access.
- Stables or other locations of the birds may only be entered by persons from outside the company wearing the company's own protective clothing or disposable protective clothing.
- Protective clothing must be cleaned and disinfected immediately after use and disposable protective clothing must be destroyed.
- The equipment used for this purpose, the loading area and the stables that have been vacated must be cleaned and disinfected after each time the birds are moved in or out.
- Proper rodent control must be carried out and recorded.
- Provide an operational facility for washing hands and a facility for changing and removing clothing and disinfecting shoes.
- The livestock owner must immediately inform the veterinary office of the measures taken in accordance with Section 4 of the Ordinance on Avian Influenza in order to detect a possible introduction of the disease at an early stage.
- The laboratory diagnostic clarification tests for avian influenza/newcastle disease are to be carried out exclusively in the state testing facilities of Baden-Württemberg and are carried out without invoicing.
If you have any questions, livestock owners can contact the lower animal health authority (veterinary office) responsible in their district at the district office or mayor's office of the urban districts.
Further information on the general ruling can be found on our website.
Further information on avian influenza and the risk of the disease entering the domestic and wild bird population can be found on the website of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut.
