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[FONT=roboto_condensedregular]The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is confining farmed birds to areas of special risk and surveillance to prevent the spread of avian influenza.[/FONT]
[FONT=roboto_condensedregular]November 7, 2025[/FONT]
[FONT=roboto_condensedregular]New preventative measures to tackle avian influenza[/FONT]
[FONT=roboto_condensedregular]The new preventative measures, taken in response to the increase in cases and migratory bird movements, will come into effect on Monday the 10th.
Surveillance and biosecurity are being strengthened on poultry farms
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will implement additional reinforcement measures from next Monday, the 10th, to prevent the spread of the avian influenza virus, given the confirmation this week of an increased risk due to the proliferation of cases in Europe - especially in wild birds - migratory movements and the drop in temperatures.
These measures include the confinement of poultry in areas considered to be of special risk and under special surveillance, 1,199 municipalities in Andalusia (197), Aragon (128), the Canary Islands (1), Cantabria (31), Castile and León (250), Castile-La Mancha (18), Catalonia (224), the Community of Madrid (16), the Valencian Community (138), Extremadura (99), Galicia (40), the Balearic Islands (14), La Rioja (6), Navarre (12), the Basque Country (6), the Principality of Asturias (8), the Region of Murcia (11), Ceuta and Melilla.
The ministry, in agreement with the autonomous communities, activates all the protection measures against avian influenza contemplated in Order APA/2442/2006, of July 27 , which includes the following prohibitions and obligations in areas of special risk and special surveillance:[/FONT]
- [FONT=roboto_condensedregular]The use of birds of the orders Anseriformes and Charadriformes as decoys is prohibited.[/FONT]
- [FONT=roboto_condensedregular]Raising ducks and geese with other poultry is prohibited.[/FONT]
- [FONT=roboto_condensedregular]The raising of poultry outdoors is prohibited. However, where this is not possible, the competent authority may authorize the keeping of poultry outdoors by installing bird netting or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds. In this case, the birds must be fed and watered inside the premises or in a shelter that prevents the arrival of wild birds and avoids their contact with the food and water intended for the poultry.[/FONT]
- [FONT=roboto_condensedregular]It is forbidden to give poultry water from reservoirs accessible to wild birds, except if it is treated to ensure the inactivation of possible avian influenza viruses.[/FONT]
- [FONT=roboto_condensedregular]Water tanks located outdoors, required for animal welfare reasons for certain poultry, shall be sufficiently protected against wild waterfowl.[/FONT]
- [FONT=roboto_condensedregular]The presence of poultry or other types of captive birds is prohibited in animal concentration centers, including livestock shows, exhibitions, displays and cultural celebrations, as well as any concentration of poultry or other types of captive birds.[/FONT]
[FONT=roboto_condensedregular]For the rest of the territory, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food reiterates the need to take extreme biosecurity measures in poultry farms, especially those aimed at avoiding contact with wild birds, as well as to reinforce passive surveillance, and to notify the official veterinary services as soon as possible of any suspected disease.
The areas of special risk and special surveillance are specified in Annexes II and III of the aforementioned order, respectively. The autonomous communities, which have jurisdiction over animal health, may determine other complementary measures to strengthen protection against this disease.[/FONT]
[FONT=roboto_condensedregular]Documents[/FONT]
https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/prensa/u...za-aviar/df4efa10-769b-4016-8814-594322780666
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EFE News
Spain bans raising poultry outdoors in areas at risk for avian flu
November 10, 2025
Madrid (EFE) - Spain is reinforcing its fight to stop the spread of avian flu from today, after more than two million farm birds have been slaughtered in recent months, and will do so with the implementation of new measures such as the confinement of poultry in 1,199 municipalities located in areas of special risk.
The increase in cases and movements of migratory birds has led the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) to activate all the protection measures provided for in Order APA/2442/2006, of July 27.
Prohibitions and obligations in special zones
From today, several prohibitions and obligations are activated in areas of special risk and surveillance.
Among them, the breeding of poultry outdoors is prohibited, but when this is not possible, the authority may authorize the keeping of poultry outdoors by placing bird nets or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds.
Providing poultry with water from reservoirs accessible to wild birds will also be prohibited, unless the water is treated to ensure the inactivation of any avian influenza viruses.
The presence of poultry or other types of captive birds in animal concentration centers is also prohibited.
For the rest of the territory, the Government recommends taking extreme biosecurity measures in poultry farms, especially those aimed at avoiding contact with wild birds, as well as reinforcing passive surveillance, and notifying any suspicion of disease as soon as possible.
The autonomous communities, which have jurisdiction over animal health, can also determine other complementary measures.
The impact on egg farms
The director of the Spanish Association of Egg Producers (Aseprhu), Mar Fernández, told EFE that the egg-laying poultry sector is "quite affected" because "almost two and a half million hens" have already been slaughtered.
However, he is confident in the positive trend because "we haven't seen any further outbreaks in recent weeks."
The affected farms "have carried out the cleaning, disinfection and emptying tasks" of the farms and of "all" materials as well as "possible contaminants".
He hopes that the affected livestock farms can recover "little by little and gradually introduce the new birds, although that will take some time."
Less impact on meat poultry
From the Spanish Interprofessional Association of Poultry Meat (Avianza), its general secretary, Jordi Montfort, told EFE that his sector is addressing the current situation of avian flu "with solidarity and commitment to consumers, farmers, companies and public administrations" and putting "all our efforts at their service."
The poultry meat sector is less affected because its production takes place mostly in closed farms "with the highest biosecurity and control measures".
These farms are "prepared to respond to this threat" thanks to the fact that biosecurity requirements "have been steadily intensified in recent years," he added.
However, "although there is no such thing as zero risk, the number of farms and birds affected by culling in the poultry sector (mainly broiler chicken) is decreasing, although every case detected is sad news for the farming families and the companies affected," according to Montfort.
On the other hand, it has sent a "message of reassurance" regarding the supply of Spanish poultry meat to distribution chains and consumers, "as always with the highest levels of quality, food safety, animal welfare and sustainability."
"In short, the sector is prepared, strengthened and fully operational," he summarized.
Planas calls for "calm" in the face of the control measures
For his part, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, on Monday called for "calm" and "rigor" in the face of the increased risks linked to avian flu in Spain and following the entry into force of the regulation approved by the Government for the control of outbreaks of this disease.
Speaking to reporters before closing the XXXVI Higher Course of European Studies '40 years of Spain's accession to the European Union, political, economic and social balance', organized by the University of Cordoba, Planas stated that coordination has been "notablely increased" in the face of "the increased risks linked to avian flu, the drop in temperatures, migratory birds and the presence of numerous outbreaks in Europe."
The minister recalled that last week the regulation was approved that requires the confinement of poultry in areas considered to be of special risk and surveillance to prevent the spread of avian influenza that affects "1,199 municipalities" throughout Spain.
https://efe.com/economia/2025-11-10/medidas-combatir-gripe-aviar-espana/
