In order to protect Latvian poultry from infection with the highly pathogenic bird flu, which has already reached neighboring countries, the government on Tuesday, March 28, approved the amendments of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) to the regulations on a set of biosecurity measures for animal keeping facilities, the Ministry of Agriculture informs.
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Enhanced biosecurity measures and requirements for poultry farms have been established between April 1 and May 15.
The participation of poultry and captive birds in events organized in accordance with the regulatory enactments on the procedure for organizing animal competitions, markets, auctions, exhibitions and other events with the participation of animals will be prohibited. Likewise, poultry and captive birds may not be released into natural surface water bodies and artificially created water bodies where certain requirements cannot be met. It is forbidden to use water obtained from surface water bodies for feeding and watering, and to release captive birds to restore hunting resources.
Employees and persons who come into contact with poultry and captive birds must be provided with work or change clothes and shoes. Poultry and captive birds must be kept, fed and watered in enclosed spaces or fed and watered in an area covered by a watertight roof and enclosed on the sides by means of nets, screens, fences or other suitable means to prevent access by wild waterfowl. If there are ratites in the shed (Ratites), separated from the rest of the poultry flock, it is acceptable that there is no additional enclosure from above. Man-made bodies of water must be fenced off with means that prevent access to wild waterfowl, and are only for use by poultry and captive waterfowl species.
Likewise, during the period from April 1 to May 15, when sick or injured wild waterfowl are placed in an animal shelter or a wild bird rehabilitation center, for no less than 21 days from the moment the birds are placed, this bird must be kept in isolation from other birds in the shelter or rehabilitation center, as well as separate care and feeding, using special equipment and tools for these birds.