NGO urges Defra to restore gamebird release licence

NGO calls for gamebird release licence to be reinstated

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation has called on Defra to reinstate the general licence for gamebird releases on European protected sites, after the Government lifted the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) across Great Britain on 4 June.

Tim Weston, director of environment, policy and politics at the NGO, said the decision to lift the housing order demonstrated that the risk of avian influenza contagion had fallen to a level that should equally justify restoring releases on Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation.

“Defra have not changed their stance on SPAs and SACs, even though the risk of avian influenza has clearly reduced enough to lift the AIPZ,” he said. “We urge Defra to reinstate the general licence for gamebird releases on European protected sites.”

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Avian influenza restrictions lifted

The AIPZ, first introduced across England on 13 December 2024, required all bird keepers to house their flocks as a precaution against highly pathogenic avian influenza circulating in wild birds. 

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said the latest epidemiological and scientific evidence showed the risk had reduced sufficiently to justify lifting the measures, but cautioned that vigilance must be maintained. “This has been possible because of the hard work of all bird keepers, who have upheld high biosecurity standards for many months,” she said. 

Dr Middlemiss urged keepers to maintain rigorous biosecurity standards. “Low risk does not mean no risk,” she said.