Lifting the poultry exhibition ban comes as a result of no new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa since June, and the lifting of the final quarantine on December 1. Iowa is now considered free of HPAI.

“This is very good news and another sign that we continue to recover from this devastating animal health emergency.

"We know the ban on exhibitions caused some real challenges for those anticipating showing or selling birds, but we appreciate everyone cooperating as we worked to stop the disease and then allow the industry to recover,” said Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

The Department issued the order prohibiting poultry exhibitions on May 21 in the midst of the HPAI outbreaks. The ban was put into place to minimise spread of HPAI and protect the state’s domestic bird population.

A total of 77 premises and 31.5 million birds were affected by the disease in Iowa. These included 35 commercial turkey flocks, 22 commercial egg production flocks, 13 pullet flocks, 1 chicken breeding flock, 1 mail order hatchery, and 5 backyard flocks.