We have received representations from the Royal Pigeon Racing Association as a result of the most recent avian influenza outbreak. They questioned the proportionality of placing a ban on all bird gatherings nationwide, which includes pigeon shows, markets and racing.
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. Following confirmation of avian influenza in Suffolk on 12 November, and consistent with EU requirements and previous outbreaks, all bird gatherings were banned throughout Great Britain.
In the case of the current outbreak and the outbreak at Holton earlier this year, we established within two weeks that the risk of disease circulating outside the restricted zones had returned to the normal low level. The ban was therefore lifted, outside restricted areas, from 23 November.