[holding answer 3 December 2007]: EU legislation requires that all bird gatherings are banned unless the member state is satisfied that a risk assessment shows that gatherings would not significantly increase the risk of avian influenza. Therefore, consistent with previous outbreaks, following confirmation of avian influenza in Suffolk on 12 November, all bird gatherings, including falconry displays, fairs, markets, shows (including pigeon shows), exhibitions and pigeon races, were banned throughout Great Britain. This is because in the immediate aftermath of an outbreak there is great uncertainty over undetected infection elsewhere in the country, which means that all bird gatherings are high risk activities.
This ban was kept under constant review, and following a veterinary risk assessment, all bird gatherings outside non-restricted areas were permitted again from 23 November. As before, this is under the normal general licence conditions of good biosecurity, notification to Animal Health seven days prior to an event and record-keeping. Also, birds coming from outside the British Isles (for example, the UK, Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man but excluding the Channel Islands for these purposes) cannot be taken to a gathering for 28 days after their importation, and pigeons must be isolated from other birds for at least seven days after a race.