Call to introduce housing orders for birds in avian flu high-risk areas
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MP David Duguid has written to the Scottish Government to ask if it will consider implementing housing orders for flocks of birds in high-risk areas ahead of Christmas following a rise in north-east avian flu cases.
During discussions with the Banff and Buchan MP, the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) said the recent surge in outbreaks across the area is a “serious concern” and “very worrying” for the poultry sector.
It comes after 23,500 birds on a farm near Peterhead were affected by the disease, killing 1500 of them. The case was the fifth to occur in Banff and Buchan since July in addition to others in Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Portsoy.
The NFUS told Mr Duguid they would support the housing of commercial flocks in high-risk areas while still allowing eggs to be labelled free range if a housing order was to be implemented.
The issue will also be raised by North East MSP Tess White, who will question rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon in parliament on Thursday on what is being done to protect poultry farmers ahead of the busy Christmas period.
In his letter to Ms Gougeon, Mr Duguid said: “I write to you after recent news that another farm in my constituency near Peterhead has confirmed avian flu cases while four others have had outbreaks across Banff and Buchan over the past two months.
“I was extremely concerned to also be notified that 4244 wild birds have been found dead or sick in the North East since October last year of the 10,087 discovered nationally. In just one week in July, Aberdeenshire Council also collected 1040 dead birds from the coastline.
“With the number of cases in Banff and Buchan rising alarmingly I would like to reiterate the concerns raised to me by the National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) which has described the situation as ‘very worrying, especially with the lack of insurance products making production a massive risk’.
“Poultry farmers have already warned of potential shortages this Christmas owing to the danger of avian flu in wild birds spreading to poultry flocks that remain outside.
“On behalf of poultry farmers in my constituency, I should be most grateful if you could provide some clarity on how the Scottish Government plans on addressing this latest rise in Avian Flu – including, if required, the possibility of housing orders for commercial stocks in high-risk areas.”
During discussions with Mr Duguid, the NFUS said: “This remains a serious concern for the poultry sector, very worrying especially with the lack of insurance products making production a massive risk.
“We would like to see support for the housing of commercial flocks in high-risk areas.”
