Immediately a line through the hocking obligation

The risk of infection from bird flu has disappeared to such an extent that the confinement obligation has been withdrawn with immediate effect. State Secretary Martijn van Dam decided this on Wednesday afternoon, April 19. All other measures will also be withdrawn. 

According to experts, the risk of bird flu transmission has decreased to such an extent that prevention measures are no longer necessary. No outbreaks have been reported in the Netherlands since the end of December. At least on a company level. The virus was still found in 2 ''hobby farmers'' in May.

Tightened regulations
In addition, it has been more than a month since a wild water bird was found with bird flu. All in all, the poultry sector has had to deal with stricter regulations for almost 5 months. The hygiene rules in the yard will remain in force in the coming period.

Since the end of 2016, 15 poultry farms in the Netherlands have been culled. Bird flu was detected on those farms, or in their immediate vicinity. A total of more than 727.000 animals have been culled.

Wouter Job

Wouter Baan is editor-in-chief of Boerenbusiness. He also focuses on dairy, pig and meat markets. He also follows (business) developments within agribusiness and interviews CEOs and policymakers.

w.baan@boerenbusiness. Nl

© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.