Defra seeks extension to remote vet checks in bird flu zones

Video cameras and smartphones look set to replace vets on the ground when assessing poultry premises located in an avian influenza control zone, with Defra launching a full consultation on the matter.

A trial of such remote veterinary inspections was carried out in England last winter, both as a way of reducing human traffic on and off affected sites, and to reduce the workload of stretched private veterinary practices.

See also: Avian influenza prevention tips and how to handle an outbreak

Such inspections are a prerequisite before birds can be moved from farms in a control zone to be slaughtered, to confirm the health of any birds and eliminate other disease risks.

Greatest pressure

The pilot project, run from November 2022 to April 2023, focused on those areas of England under the greatest pressure due to the high number of avian influenza-infected premises.

Defra is now keen to see the practice extended as a permanent arrangement for the whole of England.

“The pilot was successful in reducing veterinary pressures and provided useful lessons on how the system could be improved if adopted as a long-term change,” says Defra in the consultation document.

The document sets out three possibilities for the industry to consider:

1. Do not change the current legislation for movement licence inspections
2. Amend the rules to permit remote inspections prior to movement of birds to slaughter only
3. Amend the rules to permit remote inspections in support of other licensed movements (such as of pullets to laying farms, or vaccine eggs to laboratories).

The third possibility is defined as the “preferred option” and where Defra would like to end up, though it notes that not everyone was in favour of video inspections – for example, farmers who found the job of live streaming too onerous.

The consultation adds that remote inspection should only be carried out in situations where the veterinarian has good knowledge of the site and is satisfied it will provide reliable results.

The consultation runs until the end of October.