Since 2021, in some areas with many poultry, a cage and shielding obligation has applied almost continuously. This was withdrawn nationally in November last year, but had to be introduced again after a few days.
‘Very unpredictable’
The minister informs the House of Representatives that there have been no outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu (HPAI) in farmed birds in recent months. The last outbreak on a commercial poultry farm was on December 1, 2023 in Putten.
The lifting of the cage requirement is good news for companies with free-range chickens. If chickens have been indoors for more than sixteen weeks, these eggs may no longer be sold in the free-range category. Farmers therefore receive a lower price for the eggs.
Bird flu is still present in wild birds, and new variants of the virus can be brought along with bird migration.
‘Very unpredictable’
Among wild birds, the virus has been found in only one bird in recent weeks. “However, we have seen in recent years that bird flu is very unpredictable,” the minister writes in the letter to Parliament.
Earlier this year it was announced that the virus had also reached the Antarctic mainland. Scientists have identified the virus in dead birds at the South Pole. It is feared that the very deadly and contagious virus will spread to the large colonies of penguins that live there.
Tags: Obligation poultry cages revoked Netherlands RTL News
