Belgium is officially free of avian influenza, the FASFC reports. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has approved Belgium's self-declaration of disease-free status for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry. This lifts trade embargoes by other countries and restores exports of poultry and poultry products. However, protective measures remain in place and vigilance is still recommended.
In recent weeks, the number of bird flu infections in wild birds in Belgium and neighbouring countries has remained low. The last outbreak of bird flu in Belgium dates back to 29 December 2023. The WOAH now recognises that Belgium is free of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry and published the self-declaration (scroll to list of statements) on Friday, March 22, 2024.
Additional biosecurity measures implemented by poultry and bird keepers have limited cases of HPAI in Belgium says the FASFC. On their website, you can measures applicable in Belgium consult.
The Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) on 26 March decided to immediately withdraw the cooping and fencing obligation for poultry for almost the whole of the Netherlands. For the time being, however, the coop obligation remains in force in Gelderse Valley and Limburg Peel (regions 7,10 and 19), due to the poultry density in these regions. In these regions, keepers with more than 250 pheasants, ratites or ornamental waterfowl will also continue to be subject to the screening obligation.
The minister took this decision based on a new advice from the animal disease expert group. This meets regularly to analyse the bird flu situation. The risk of introducing bird flu on poultry farms is now estimated as low throughout the Netherlands if the confinement obligation remains in place and low to moderate if it is withdrawn. Earlier, the risk was moderate to high.
The caging and fencing requirement had been in force since 14-11-2023. Last time the obligation to confine and screen was withdrawn, the situation changed rapidly. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality continues to monitor the situation closely. There are also regular consultations with various organisations about the situation in wild birds. The risk of bird flu passing from poultry to humans (zoonosis) is still small in the Netherlands, according to a recent European Food Safety Authority report.
