England lifts AIPZ housing rules on 9 April 2026

From 9 April 2026, housing measures under the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone in England have been lifted. If you keep poultry or other captive birds, you can let them outside again unless your premises is inside a protection zone or a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone. The AIPZ itself remains in force, so mandatory biosecurity rules still apply.

Let’s get clear on terms we all use. An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is a legal tool used by Defra to reduce the spread of bird flu. It sets minimum rules for everyone who keeps birds, from a small backyard flock to a large farm. When housing measures are lifted, that simply means birds may go outside again; it does not remove hygiene and movement controls that come with the AIPZ.

To check what applies to you, open the official GOV.UK bird flu disease zone map and type your postcode. The map will show whether you are in a protection zone, a surveillance zone, a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone, or only the wider AIPZ. Quick check: if the map shows a protection zone or captive bird monitoring zone around you, you must follow the tighter local rules for that area before changing housing or moving birds or products.

Movements are a common way infections travel. You may need a licence to move live birds, eggs, by‑products, manure, bedding, equipment or certain mammals into, within or out of a disease control zone. The GOV.UK movement licence pages explain which moves are covered, how to apply, and what paperwork hauliers must carry. Build in time: approvals are not instant and consignments should not go ahead until conditions are met.

Recent zone updates matter for neighbours of previous outbreaks. On 31 March 2026, after disease control and surveillance, the 3km protection zone near Pickering, Thirsk and Malton (AIV 2026/15) ended and that area became part of the surveillance zone. On 20 March 2026, the 3km captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone near Ancroft, Northumberland (AIV 2026/14) was revoked following checks.

For the 2025 to 2026 outbreak season (1 October to 30 September), confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 cases stand at 75 in England, 9 in Scotland, 7 in Wales and 5 in Northern Ireland. There has been one low‑pathogenic case in England. That totals 96 HPAI cases so far. Under World Organisation for Animal Health rules, the UK is not currently free from HPAI.

Risk is assessed regularly by Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency. They rate HPAI H5 in wild birds across Great Britain as medium, meaning events occur regularly. For kept birds, exposure risk is considered low where strong biosecurity is applied at all times, but it is higher where hygiene is poor. In other words, your routine really matters.

What it means for your set‑up: keep feed and water under cover to deter wild birds; clean and disinfect boots, equipment and hard standings before and after contact with birds; use dedicated clothing for bird areas; fence off ponds and standing water; store bedding and feed securely; and keep a simple visitor and delivery log. Talk these steps through with anyone who helps you so the routine is consistent.

Public health advice is steady. The UK Health Security Agency says bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low. The Food Standards Agency says the food safety risk for UK consumers is very low; properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to eat. Good handwashing is still a must if you have contact with birds, faeces or feathers.

If you see dead or sick wild birds, don’t touch them. Use the GOV.UK service to report what you’ve found so responders can assess and, where thresholds are met, collect samples. APHA publishes weekly reports of findings in wild birds across Great Britain, and land managers can download official posters to inform visitors during higher‑risk periods.

Feeding garden birds is fine, but wash your hands with soap and water afterwards and avoid doing so near premises that keep poultry or other captive birds. If you are inside an AIPZ, you must not feed wild gamebirds within 500 metres of a premises that keeps more than 500 birds. For gardens, follow British Trust for Ornithology advice on keeping feeders and water baths clean to reduce disease transmission.

Thinking about a show, sale or race? Outside disease control zones in England, gatherings of columbiformes, passeriformes, psittaciformes and birds of prey can go ahead under a general licence if its conditions are met. Gatherings of galliformes, anseriformes and ratites require a specific licence. Always check the latest GOV.UK guidance before confirming dates.

Vaccination remains limited. You cannot vaccinate poultry or most captive birds against bird flu in England. Zoos may vaccinate eligible birds only with prior authorisation from the Animal and Plant Health Agency and if they hold a current zoo licence. Defra continues to fund research and, with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, monitors vaccine development through the avian influenza vaccination taskforce.

Avian influenza viruses can infect mammals. Influenza of avian origin in mammals is a notifiable disease in both wild and kept mammals. Vets, wildlife professionals and laboratories must report immediately if they suspect infection or detect the virus or antibodies. Reporting lines are 03000 200 301 for England, 03003 038 268 for Wales, and the local Field Services Office for Scotland. Failing to report is an offence.

Learning together helps us act faster. Free ‘stop the spread’ webinars on GOV.UK explain everyday biosecurity and how avian influenza moves. Teacher tip: use the zone map and a recent APHA wild bird report as a short case study on how evidence informs public decisions in real time.

Behind the response are established playbooks. Defra follows the contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases and the notifiable avian disease control strategy, and applies a mitigation strategy for wild birds in England and Wales. For legal reference, key instruments include the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 and its amendments, the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) Regulations 2006, the Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) Orders, and recent Exotic Disease Amendment Orders. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have parallel guidance and legislation on their own sites.

Your practical next steps: check your address on the official zone map; read the rules for your zone; keep biosecurity tight even as birds return outdoors; and, if you plan movements or gatherings, look up any licence you need and build in time for approval. If unsure, speak to your vet or APHA and keep written notes of any decisions. Keeping records helps you and helps inspectors if they call.