French breeders will have to confine their poultry, the risk relating to avian influenza rising to "
high
" in metropolitan France due to the multiplication of cases in neighboring countries, according to a decree published on Friday in the Official Journal.
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This increase in the level of risk implies that all poultry farms lock up their animals to avoid contact with migratory birds, potentially carriers of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI), commonly known as avian influenza.
This is also the case in the Netherlands since last week.
Avoid outbreaks at all costs
The government hopes to avoid the repetition of last winter: France had identified nearly 500 outbreaks of avian influenza in poultry farms, mainly in the South-West known for its production of foie gras. The crisis could only be stopped at the cost of slaughtering more than 3.5 million poultry, mainly ducks. "
The runaway dynamics of infection in the migration corridors justifies the increase in the level of risk
", to "
high
" on "
the whole of the metropolitan territory
", indicates the decree which comes into force immediately.
“
Since the beginning of August, 130 cases or outbreaks of avian influenza have been detected in wildlife or in farms in Europe, particularly on the shores of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, including three outbreaks in German farms
”, identifies the Ministry of Agriculture in a press release.
“
At the same time, the confinement of all professional farms was decided in the Netherlands following the detection of an outbreak in a farm of laying hens.
In Italy, six outbreaks have been detected in broiler turkey farms in the Verona region since October 19,
”continues the ministry.
So far, France has retained its “
free
”
status
from influenza which conditions export outlets, as no commercial breeding has yet been affected.
The opposition of the breeders
“
It's an upheaval. We do not do it out of heart, but we support this preventive measure
, ”reacts to AFP the director of the foie gras interprofessional organization, Marie-Pierre Pé. "
Duck producers are ready to do what is necessary to avoid a bird crisis and avoid the massive culling that we have known,
" she adds. "
The breeders call us collapsed, stuck in this situation
", according to Sylvie Colas, breeder and spokesperson for the Confédération paysanne du Gers.
“
Locking up animals is to deprive them of immunity.
We place them in an ultra-confined universe which is not natural
”, plague Nicolas Petit, at the head of a small organic breeding in L'Isle Jourdain (Gers).
At present, the authorities allow poultry over ten weeks old to take to the air, in a small space.
"
It's a playground, it's ridiculous,
" continues Sylvie Colas, who refuses to lock up her chickens, guinea fowl and capons.
Read alsoThe poultry sector is reorganizing to avoid a new avian epidemic
“
At a month and a half before Christmas, these birds cannot change their habits
” at the risk of becoming aggressive among themselves, she pleads.
“
Since this morning, I have been outlawed.
When the level of risk is "
high
", commercial farms must "
shelter
" poultry, but also individuals, at least by installing a net above their backyard.
The gatherings of poultry, for example for competitions, are prohibited, as well as competitions of carrier pigeons "
from or on arrival from France until March 31,
" lists the ministry.
In zoos, birds that cannot be confined or placed under netting should be vaccinated.