As a further precautionary measure against avian influenza, Künast enacted an emergency ordinance

Federal Consumer Minister Renate Künast has issued an emergency ordinance as a further precautionary measure to protect against avian influenza. "To be on the safe side, everything has to be organized in such a way that, in the worst case, all the necessary data is available so that we can take protective measures immediately." Since there is generally no obligation to register for poultry, it will be issued with the urgent ordinance.

The urgent regulation stipulates:

1. An obligation to report the keeping of ducks, geese, pheasants, partridges, quail or pigeons (for chicken keeping there is already a notification obligation under the Livestock Transport Ordinance),
2. If increased losses (in flocks with up to 24 poultry at least three animals, in flocks with more than 100 poultry more than 100%) or a reduction in performance occur in a poultry flock within 2 hours, the animal keeper is obliged to report this According to § 9 Animal Diseases Act (suspicion of an epidemic), to report this to the competent authority and, after more detailed instructions, to have an examination carried out for influenza A virus subtypes H 5 and H 7,
3. Poultry keepers have to keep a register in which they have to enter the names and addresses of the transport company, the previous owner and the purchaser of incoming and outgoing poultry. Visits from outside the company must also be entered.

The regulation will enter into force on Sunday 8 February.

Source: Berlin [bmvel]