Poultry farming in south west France placed under tight restrictions

The French agricultural authorities intend to create an 'air lock' in an attempt to rid the poultry industry in the south west of France of H5N1 bid flu.

In an official notice, the authorities have said that the introduction of geese and ducks into the poultry trade would be restricted until there were no new birds in the supply chain.

Once the current stock of foie gras and other products is completed, farms and industrial buildings will be thoroughly cleaned in an attempt to rid the region of bird flu.

The French authorities have said that farmers do not need to cull birds already in the process of being raised, but that their plan will hopefully see the return of health birds, in clean environments, by May and enable the industry to recover in time for Christmas 2016.

Since late last year the number of cases of bird flu have increased having an impact on more than 60 farms across the south west, and it has seen many countries ban the importation of poultry products from France.