This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza.

The November 2025 qualitative risk assessment assessed the overall risk of spread of avian influenza at a gathering of Passeriformes as medium.

Given the heightened risk in December 2025, gatherings involving Passeriformes could not be permitted by general licence. They were therefore permitted only by specific licence, allowing case-by-case assessment and tailored risk mitigation measures.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra officials engaged with stakeholders during summer 2025 including show organisers, auctioneers and breed societies, to better understand achievable conditions for gatherings. Engagement was via a number of stakeholder groups which occur regularly, and a series of individual discussions with key impacted parties. This process helped to shape a set of template conditions which could mitigate the disease risk associated with some gatherings. Each gathering is subject to an individual risk assessment, which determines which set of conditions are associated with the licence issued for the gathering.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza. Detailed risk assessments can be found on Gov.UK.

As legislation requires this to be a risk-based decision, assessments of the impact to individual events, the number of events, or types of event, have not been made.

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. Our approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), whilst protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak.

Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds and species; and the number of exhibitors. Gatherings, including mixed species exhibitions may be permitted, subject to licence.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

The decision as to whether to allow gatherings by way of a general licence is kept under regular review and is informed by qualitative risk assessment containing the latest scientific and ornithological evidence and veterinary advice. 

Where risk levels are not sufficiently low to permit gatherings by general licence, applicants can apply for a specific licence for a gathering. A preliminary, individual risk assessment will be completed for each application, and a specific licence may be granted if the gathering and the transport of birds to and from it would not significantly increase the risk of the spread of bird flu.

Defra has engaged with stakeholders to understand the challenges for those applying for specific licences, including small bird-keeping groups, and regularly considers the feedback received from those applying for licences. Defra has reviewed and improved the clarity of guidance for bird gatherings on gov.uk. Defra continues to work on improving the application process for specific licences, to ensure those applying can provide all the required information for APHA to assess their application.

Although general licences are now in place for poultry (except Anseriformes) and other captive birds, Defra continues to engage with stakeholders to understand achievable conditions for gatherings held under specific or general licence.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra takes a proportionate approach to veterinary input and oversight at bird gatherings. At all gatherings there is a requirement that a veterinary surgeon must be available to attend at short notice if birds show signs of ill-health or there are welfare concerns. Events held under general licence do not have any additional requirements for veterinary professionals, in line with the low risk assessed for these events.

For events held under specific licence, the licence conditions will be based on the APHA’s preliminary, individual risk assessment for that application. These conditions may vary, depending on the assessed risk level of the gathering.

All exotic disease prevention and control measures, including licence conditions and the need for veterinary input, are kept under regular review, and regularly discussed with APHA, as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of exotic disease.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra takes a proportionate approach to veterinary input and oversight at bird gatherings. At all gatherings there is a requirement that a veterinary surgeon must be available to attend at short notice if birds show signs of ill-health or there are welfare concerns. Events held under general licence do not have any additional requirements for veterinary professionals, in line with the low risk assessed for these events.

For events held under specific licence, the licence conditions will be based on the APHA’s preliminary, individual risk assessment for that application. These conditions may vary, depending on the assessed risk level of the gathering.

All exotic disease prevention and control measures, including licence conditions and the need for veterinary input, are kept under regular review, and regularly discussed with APHA, as part of the government’s work to monitor and manage the risks of exotic disease.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is committed to providing a digital first but not digital only service. Accessibility is a paramount concern and one that APHA is committed to adhering to and monitoring, as per Government Digital Services requirements. Gathering organisers who need assistance can call APHA and a team will assist with completing the online application.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

In England, bird gatherings are regulated under Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006. To hold a gathering which includes birds not covered by general licence, applicants can apply for a specific licence.

The specific licence application process is as follows:

1. Applications must be made at least 20 days before the planned event.
2. A preliminary, individual risk assessment will be completed by APHA for each application, based on the risk at the time of application. Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds; and the number of premises.
3. Seven days before the gathering, the risk is re-assessed, to reflect any change since the preliminary risk assessment.
4. If the risk assessment supports this, a specific licence is issued for the gathering.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

A specific licence must be applied for at least 20 days before a planned gathering. This is to allow sufficient time to undertake an individual risk assessment and to inform the gathering organiser whether in principle, the gathering could be licensed. As provisional approval is based on the risk at the time of application, the risk will need to be re-assessed within 7 days of the event, in case the risk has changed. Defra has ongoing discussions with APHA to streamline the assessment process.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza. Detailed risk assessments can be found on Gov.UK.

As legislation requires this to be a risk-based decision, assessments of the impact to individual events, the number of events, or types of event, have not been made.

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. Our approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), whilst protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak.

Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds and species; and the number of exhibitors. Gatherings, including mixed species exhibitions may be permitted, subject to licence.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza. Detailed risk assessments can be found on Gov.UK.

As legislation requires this to be a risk-based decision, assessments of the impact to individual events, the number of events, or types of event, have not been made.

Defra’s disease control measures seek to contain the number of animals that need to be culled, either for disease control purposes or to safeguard animal welfare. Our approach aims to reduce adverse impacts on the rural and wider economy, the public, rural communities and the environment (including impact on wildlife), whilst protecting public health and minimising the overall cost of any outbreak.

Assessing the risk of each gathering is complex. Factors taken into account include, but are not limited to: the background risk; the origin locations of the birds; the species of birds attending; biosecurity measures; the number of birds and species; and the number of exhibitors. Gatherings, including mixed species exhibitions may be permitted, subject to licence.

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The Department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

There are no plans to review guidance or regulations relating to the promotion of hunting trips at exhibitions in the UK. Where the import of any Appendix I or II species is involved, such activities are governed by existing rules under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).