If your premises are in a Protection or Surveillance Zone a movement licence will be required for certain activities.
Movement licences can be obtained from the APHA by using the online service. The APHA withdrew its email application service in February 2022. If you are in England, Scotland or Wales, all applications for an avian influenza licence will need to be made via the online service.
Register online
To apply online you will need to register and create sign in details. Register at:
There will be two steps for verification.
Once registered, you can track the status of your application and receive your licence electronically.聽
The APHA can also be contacted by telephone on 03000 200 301 and choosing option 2.
Top tips for licence applications
- before applying for a licence. From 1 October 2024, it became a legal requirement for all bird keepers to register their flock.
- Fully complete the application form and include details of the correct CPH number for your poultry premises.
- Submit your application as far in advance of the requested move as possible.
- Allow at least five days for the processing of your licence application and remember that complex and high-risk movements will need extra time to process.
- Contact the APHA if there are exceptional circumstances and you need the licence sooner than five days.
- Make appropriate contingency plans to allow for any delays and consider what steps you will need to take if the licence cannot be issued for when you would like it to be.
Case-by-case
Applications will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Dr Lara Harrup from Defra鈥檚 Exotic Disease Policy Response Team (EDPRT) Outbreak Communications Cell said: "Applications will be received via the online system and will be reviewed, and if appropriate, licences issued to allow essential activities to continue whilst not increasing the risk of spread of avian influenza.
"You can also use this service to check the status of your application, add further information in support of your application and/or download issued licences."
General licences
General licences allow a movement or activity that would otherwise be prohibited in England and Wales.
You need to check that you meet and comply with the conditions of the general licence. If you do so, you do not need to apply - you can rely on the general licence as providing authority for the movement or activity.
General licences have been issued for the following activities聽(please note these are not valid for movements in or out of a Temporary Control Zone;聽individual movement licences will be required):
- from premises in a Protection or Surveillance Zone.
- from premises in a Protection Zone in England, Wales or Scotland.
- into, within or out of a Protection or within or out of a Surveillance Zone in England or Scotland.聽
- The general licence for .
- These general licences allow eggs to be packed on reusable trays in England, Wales and Scotland subject to the cleansing and disinfection requirements laid out in the licence conditions.
- from or to premises in the Protection or Surveillance Zone in England or Wales where poultry and other captive birds are kept.
- Please note that any mammals moved under this licence must have no access to and been kept separate from poultry and any other birds for a minimum of 21 days.
- Movement of poultry by-products and hatching eggs for disposal from premises in a Protection or Surveillance Zone.
- The Originating from Premises in a Protection Zone or a Surveillance Zone.
Information on all of the general licences available can be found at:
Individual movement licences
Unless covered by a general licence, poultry keepers will need to apply to the APHA for individual movement licences.聽
Please ensure you give the APHA as much notice as possible as it can take time to issue licences.聽The APHA is likely to receive high volumes of licence requests so contingency plans should be arranged in case there is any delay in licensing.
The following movements of poultry or poultry products will need to be licensed by a veterinary inspector:
- Poultry from premises in the zone for immediate slaughter at a designated slaughterhouse
- Poultry meat
- Poultry to a designated slaughterhouse in the zone from premises outside the zone
- Day-old chicks hatched from eggs produced in the zone or from eggs which came into contact with such eggs
- Day-old chicks hatched from eggs originating outside the protection zone
- Ready-to-lay poultry to premises or part of premises where no poultry are kept
- Hatching eggs from the zone to a designated hatchery or premises
- Hatching eggs from outside the zone to a designated hatchery or premises within the zone (the hatchery must be operated in such a way that eggs from outside the zone do not come into contact with eggs or day-old chicks from within the zone)
- Eggs to a designated egg packing centre (they must be packed in disposable packaging)
- Eggs to an egg processing plant
- Eggs for disposal
- Carcasses for disposal or diagnosis
Members should check with their processor or egg packer whether they are designated to receive live birds, meat, or eggs from farms within a Protection or Surveillance Zone, and have their designation details to hand when applying for movement licences.
Unless your holding is under individual site-specific restrictions, feed can be brought onto the premises without a licence as long as the requirements for cleansing and disinfection within your Zone are met.
Licensing queries
If you have any licensing queries, or aren鈥檛 sure whether or not you need a licence, contact the APHA with your query by telephone on 03000 200 301 (choose option 2) or by emailing聽[email protected].
Wellbeing
In these uncertain and often challenging times it is more important than ever to look after our own and others鈥� mental health.
If you or anyone you know are experiencing anxiety or stress then help and support is available nationally via:
The Prince鈥檚 Countryside Fund has also published a聽directory of local farm and rural support groups. Visit: