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<p>Compensation, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981, is payable for healthy
birds only. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died.
Compensation policy for birds culled by HM Government for disease control purposes
is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion, as swift and humane culling
of birds on infected premises coupled with good biosecurity are critical for preventing
the amplification of avian influenza and subsequent environmental contamination and
to reduce the risk of disease spread from infected premises.</p><p>APHA makes its
assessment of the disease status of the birds based on clinical inspection and veterinary
judgment. Historically this assessment has been based on the actual number of birds
culled rather than the number of healthy birds at the point that culling starts. The
amount paid was therefore depended on the evolution of the disease on site between
the initial assessment of the number of healthy birds close to the start of culling
less any that die between the start and end of culling.</p><p>In response to significant
concerns from industry on the impact the rapid mortality caused by the current H5N1
strain and risk that escalating cases numbers leading to substantial delays to culling
can have on the amount of compensation paid, changes to the compensation scheme for
avian influenza have been introduced (effective from the 1 October).</p><p>Compensation
will now be linked to decisions taken at the start of planned culling rather than
at the end. This will allow us to give earlier certainty about entitlement to compensation,
better reflect the impact of outbreaks on premises and lead to swifter payments to
help stem any cash flow pressures.</p><p>Compensation is not paid for consequential
losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or
poultry meat. Compensation is also not paid for other things that have to be seized
because they pose a risk of transmitting disease.</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/934688/biosecurity-poultry-guide.pdf"
target="_blank">Biosecurity guidance</a> and a <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1072675/aipz-self-assessment-checklist.odt"
target="_blank">biosecurity self-assessment checklist</a> have been published by HM
Government to assist all bird keepers in instigating and maintaining good biosecurity.</p>
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