The mandatory Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Northern Ireland will be lifted from midnight tonight, ending six months of compulsory bird flu restrictions imposed on the poultry sector since last November. The move, announced by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), follows the lifting of the housing order last week and permits bird gatherings to resume under licence from Friday 15 May 2026.
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir confirmed that the measures, which have required strict biosecurity protocols for all bird keepers since 1 November 2025, will end at 00:01 on Friday. The decision follows confirmation from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) that Northern Ireland has regained freedom from high pathogenicity avian influenza in poultry, after the Omagh outbreak was resolved in March.
End of Six Months of Compulsory Controls
Introduced on 1 November 2025, the AIPZ served as a vital tool to protect flocks from H5N1 avian influenza circulating in wild birds. The zone made it a legal requirement for all keepers—from large commercial operations to backyard hobbyists—to follow stringent biosecurity measures, including housing birds indoors or otherwise keeping them separate from wild birds.
While the compulsory housing order was lifted on 5 May 2026, the wider AIPZ remained in place until now, continuing the ban on poultry and bird gatherings. From Friday, all such gatherings will be permitted provided organisers comply with the provisions of the updated General Licence for bird gatherings.
Bird keepers are no longer legally required to follow the mandatory biosecurity checklist, though officials strongly recommend maintaining these standards as good practice.
Minister Praises Sector Resilience
Minister Muir thanked the industry for its cooperation during what has been a challenging period for the sector, which contributes significantly to Northern Ireland’s £7.3 billion food and drink economy.
Minister Muir said: “Thanks to the determined efforts from the poultry sector in Northern Ireland to protect their flocks and minimise the impact of disease, we are now in a position to lift the AIPZ and reduce all mandatory restrictions placed on bird keepers. I am sure this will be welcome news for the sector which contributes greatly to our economy and wider society.
“Although all mandatory restrictions have now been lifted, the biosecurity requirements set out for the AIPZ should still be considered good practice. We are urging all bird keepers, whether they have a few birds or thousands, to adhere to the guidance as much as is practically possible.
“I would also encourage all poultry and captive bird keepers to remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and seek immediate advice from their vet if they have any concerns.”
Ongoing Risks and Voluntary Vigilance
While the formal restrictions end, the virus has not disappeared from the environment. Highly pathogenic avian influenza continues to circulate in wild bird populations across the island of Ireland, with cases detected in swans and other species as recently as March 2026. The shift from mandatory to voluntary biosecurity places greater responsibility on individual keepers to maintain standards without legal enforcement.
The Department has published a self-assessment biosecurity checklist to assist poultry keepers in reviewing their arrangements. All bird keepers remain legally obliged to report any suspicion of avian influenza immediately to DAERA on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Office.
The Public Health Agency maintains that the risk to general human health remains very low, and the Food Standards Agency confirms that properly cooked poultry and eggs remain safe to consume.
Questions for the Sector
The lifting of the AIPZ returns autonomy to bird keepers, but several considerations remain:
- Will the return to unrestricted bird gatherings increase the risk of cross-contamination between flocks, given the virus persists in wild bird populations?
- How will DAERA monitor compliance with voluntary biosecurity guidelines now that mandatory enforcement has ended, and what support exists for smallholders who invested in temporary housing infrastructure?
- What specific surveillance triggers would prompt a rapid reintroduction of the AIPZ should cases resurge in the coming months?
- Given that Northern Ireland supplies approximately one-sixth of UK poultry output, what contingency plans exist to protect this economic contribution if the virus returns during the autumn migration season?
Keepers should review the clinical signs and biosecurity guidance on the DAERA website to ensure their flocks remain protected as the industry transitions back to normal operations.