The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is seeking views on using remote video veterinary inspections in avian influenza (bird flu) disease control zones.
A veterinary inspection is required for the movement of poultry or poultry products from premises in bird flu disease control zones.
At present these take place by a vet visiting a premises to inspect the bird prior to movement. However, in November 2022, a temporary amendment of rules allowed visual veterinary inspections to be conducted remotely using video for movements to slaughter.
This temporary measure expired on April 16, but Defra is now seeking views on making it permanent, under specific circumstances and with appropriate safeguards in place to mitigate the risk of disease spread.
It has opened an informal, online consultation which will run for four weeks, closing on October 31. Individuals and organisations are welcome to respond, however the consultation is directed at veterinarian and veterinary organisations that have a role in inspecting poultry and bodies that may work with the government or industry as part of animal disease e control.
The consultation applies to England only.
Defra said that the ongoing bird flu outbreak had led to “considerable pressures” on private veterinary resources, in part due to the need for these visits.
These checks are necessary in order to reduce the risk of the disease spreading.
Defra said that the trial period of remote video inspections between November 2022 and April 2023 was successful in reducing veterinary pressures, and saved travel time and costs for private vets to and from premises.
Some keepers were in favour of remote video inspections as it reduced the frequency of vet visits to the site from a biosecurity perspective, however others preferred physical vet checks because remote inspection required keeper time to perform the video inspection and was therefore an increased burden on them.
The consultation gives three options: Not changing legislation to allow remote video inspections; allowing these inspections prior to the movement of birds to slaughter only; allowing them in support of licensed movements.
The second option is preferred by Defra.
