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From midnight on April 7, keepers in Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland and Tyneside must house their birds. This extension is in addition to those housing measures already in place

Currently, after 12 weeks, free-range poultry has to be labelled as indoor reared when mandatory housing measures are introduced in response to bird flu

NFU poultry board chair, James Mottershead said AI vaccination programme for birds need to be safe to give consumers the confidence to continue eating poultry products, and must not disrupt exports

The NFU plea coincides with the first suspected bird flu outbreak of the season in Northern Ireland, which was recorded among a commercial flock in Co Tyrone

Defra has also announced new housing measures in York, North Yorkshire and Shropshire

The UK Health and Security Agency said the individual had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds

Bird keepers in Wales are urged to 'remain vigilant' and report any signs or suspicion of avian influenza immediately

It is now a legal requirement for all birdkeepers within the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) to follow ‘strict biosecurity measures' to help protect their flocks, of whatever type or size

The supermarket has also introduced new stocking density requirements for its fresh chickens, aimed at improving their quality life

UK traders will now be able to export poultry to South Africa for the first time in eight years