EMERGENCY measures to stop the spread of bird flu are to remain in place for the time being.
Jersey’s chief vet, Alistair Breed, is advising birdkeepers to continue to follow all the restrictions, including keeping birds housed and using netting to separate them from wild birds.
The restrictions were imposed in February when two wild buzzards and a captive red-breasted goose tested positive for bird flu, and Jersey was declared an ‘avian influenza prevention zone’.
Since the measures were brought in, no further cases have been found in Jersey.
Mr Breed said: ‘I am aware that bird-flu controls are not always easy to implement.
‘However, I appreciate the great effort that birdkeepers are putting into this. I look forward to their ongoing co-operation as, sadly, there continues to be a significant risk to birds from wild birds.’
He added: ‘Disease surveillance and testing are ongoing and we cannot be complacent. With outbreaks continuing in England and western France, we need to ensure separation from wild birds continues in Jersey and therefore the housing and separation requirements will, regrettably, remain in place until further notice.’
Sellers of eggs in Jersey will be allowed to continue to mark eggs as ‘free range’ because the order to keep hens inside was introduced in the Island much later than in the UK.
Trading standards officers will announce when producers here will need to label their produce as ‘barn eggs’ instead.
