Measures introduced previously to combat avian flu were amended with effect from midnight on 15 December, the Secretary of Economic Affairs, Sharon Dijksma, has told the parliament. The move follows 14 days with no new infections with avian influenza.

With the exception of the 10-kilometre regions around the previous outbreaks, measures have been relaxed across the whole country as the regionalisation has been abandoned.

However, the requirement to keep commercial poultry under cover remains in force, as do the ban of visitors to farms and the need to clean and disinfect vehicles between each farm visit.

Farmers are advised to maintain biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of avian influenza in poultry houses.

The Secretary added that the measures will be reinstated, should avian flu return to the country.

The 10-km zones around the previously infected farms in Hekendorp, Ter Aar, Kamperveen and Zoeterwoude will be maintained up to 30 days after disinfection of their respective companies. Within these zones, there is a total ban on transporting poultry, eggs, poultry manure and used bedding from poultry farms. The poultry transport ban also applies to mixed farms and to other animals and manure from other animals at the same premises. The hunting ban also remains in place in the 10-km zone, while it has been lifted elsewhere in the country, and hobby farmers must also keep their birds indoors.

Further Reading

You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.