Statutory guidance

General licence for the movement from premises and spreading of used poultry litter, poultry manure and poultry slurry in a protection zone or a surveillance zone in England, Wales or Scotland (EXD353(HPAI)(GB))

Updated 20 December 2025

Applies to England and Wales

This licence permits, subject to compliance with the conditions set out in this licence:

• the movement of used poultry litter, poultry manure and poultry slurry from premises in a protection zone or a surveillance zone within England, Wales or Scotland; and
• the spreading of such used poultry litter, poultry manure and poultry slurry in a protection zone or a surveillance zone in England, Wales or Scotland

This licence only permits movements that are otherwise prohibited by a declaration issued in response to an outbreak of H5NX, for example H5N1, H5N5. It does not permit movements prohibited by a declaration issued in response to an outbreak of any other strain of HPAI.

This licence is valid from 10:25 on 20 December 2025 until it is suspended or revoked in writing and revokes and replaces the EXD353 (HPAI)(EW) licence that came into force at 10:20 on 19 December 2024.

This licence has been issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scottish Government and Welsh Government, and it applies to England, Scotland and Wales.

Signed: Karim Hachimi, Veterinary Inspector

Date: 20 December 2025. Time: 10:25am.

Veterinary Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State, Scottish Ministers and Welsh Ministers.

Legislation

This general licence is issued in accordance with:

• paragraph 11 of Schedule 4 and paragraph 8 of Schedule 5 of The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No. 2) Order 2006 (as amended)
• paragraph 11 of Schedule 4 and paragraph 8 of Schedule 5 of The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No. 2) Order 2006 (as amended)
• paragraph 11 of Schedule 4 and paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 of The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006 (as amended)

Conditions of the licence

1. This licence does not apply to any premises which has been made subject to restrictions by a notice served under the Order.

Movement conditions

2. Used poultry litter, poultry manure or poultry slurry may only be moved from premises under this licence for the purposes of:

a) Treatment in accordance with paragraph 11 below;

b) Spreading following such treatment; or 

c) Disposal by incineration, combustion or rendering at a plant approved under article 24 of assimilated Regulation (EC) 1069/2009. 

3. Any movement under this licence must be direct to premises where one or more of the actions referred to in paragraph 2(a)-(c) above is to take place.

4. Immediately prior to the movement of untreated or treated used poultry litter, manure or slurry under this licence, the licensee must inspect any poultry on the premises of origin to confirm they show no clinical signs that could be associated with avian influenza.

5. Before leaving the premises of origin: 

a) the exterior of the vehicle used to move things under this licence must be free of any visible contamination with mud, slurry, animal faeces, excretions, poultry feathers, litter, eggshell or any other similar matter

b) the vehicle’s wheels and wheel arches must be cleansed and disinfected after loading and before leaving the premises. The cleansing and disinfection must take place at a point beyond which no contamination with poultry feathers, faeces, litter, eggshell or any similar matter can take place

6. The vehicle or container used to transport the materials must be leak proof. There must also be a spill kit available in the vehicle during transport in case of any spillage.

7. After unloading at the premises of destination:

a) the parts of the vehicle and any equipment used to transport anything which might be contaminated with mud, slurry, poultry faeces, excretions, feathers or any other similar matter must be cleansed and disinfected on site

b) the vehicle’s wheels and wheel arches must be cleansed and disinfected after unloading and before leaving the destination premises

8. A copy of this licence must be provided to the operator of the destination premises upon arrival at the destination premises.

9. The licensee must ensure that any person involved in this movement:

a) does not enter or leave any poultry or captive bird premises wearing clothing or footwear which is visibly soiled with mud, poultry or bird faeces or any similar matter

b) cleanses and disinfects their footwear before entering or leaving any premises or place where poultry or captive birds were present

c) removes any disposable clothing before leaving a poultry or captive bird premises and does not reuse it at further premises

d) ensures non disposable clothing is clean and free of all visible contamination before leaving a poultry or captive bird premises

e) takes all other reasonable precautions to avoid transferring mud, slurry, animal faeces, excretions, feathers or any other similar matter between poultry and captive bird premises

10. Cleansing and disinfection must be in accordance with

• Article 66 of the Order in England and Wales
• Article 65 of the Order in Scotland

Spreading conditions

11. Used poultry litter, poultry manure or poultry slurry may only be spread under this licence if it has first been subjected to one of the following treatments, as applicable. 

a) Poultry litter or manure: steam treated to a temperature of at least 70°C;

b) Poultry litter or manure: sprayed with disinfectant and as far as practicable covered with impervious sheeting to protect against access from wild birds and other animals. It must be stacked and stored for a minimum of 42 days after the last addition of material at the premises;

c) Poultry litter or manure: buried on the premises from which it originated, deep enough to prevent access by wild birds and animals;

d) Slurry: storage for a minimum of 60 days after the last addition of material;

e) Poultry litter or manure: treated at a plant approved under article 24 of assimilated Regulation (EC) 1069/2009 by incineration, combustion, or rendering only, in accordance with the relevant animal by-products legislation.

12. Where used poultry litter, used poultry manure or poultry slurry treated under condition 11 is spread to land, domestic animals must not have access to the specific part of the land on which the material has been applied for at least of 21 days.

Explanatory Notes

1. The “Order” the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) in England, the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Wales) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended) in Wales, or the Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006 (as amended) in Scotland.

2. If the activity that you wish to undertake is not covered by this licence, or if you are unable to comply with any of the terms and conditions which apply to the use of this licence, then you will need to apply for a specific licence.

3. A record of the movement Including the registration of any vehicle used must be made by the occupier of the source premises as soon as is reasonably practicable after the movement and retained for at least six weeks after the movement is completed, as required by Article 74 of the Order in England and Wales or Article 73 of the Order in Scotland.. 

4. When moving anything under the authority of this licence, a person must carry a consignment note. The consignment note must include: 

a) the quantity of material being moved

b) the date of the movement

c) the name of the consignor

d) the address of the premises from which the materials have been moved

e) the registration of the collecting vehicle

f) the name of the consignee

g) the address of the disposal premises 

5. Prior to removal and where large amounts of dust are likely to be produced during the handling, materials should be dampened with suitable virucidal disinfectants. 

6. Where the use of a disinfectant is required under this licence, the disinfectant must be used at the correct concentration, allow adequate contact time and must be approved under the:

• Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (England) Order 2007 (as amended) in England
• Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Wales) Order 2007 (as amended) in Wales
• Diseases of Animals (Approved Disinfectants) (Scotland) Order 2008 in Scotland

7. Where material is to be stacked or stored on premises this should be in line with:

a) relevant guidance:

i) Protecting our water, soil and air: The storage, stacking and treatment of litter, straw, manure and slurry arising from an exotic notifiable animal disease outbreak

ii) the Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 – Water GBR 18 and relevant guidance and codes of practice: FW-Factsheet-1.pdf and PEPFAA Code - Farming and Water Scotland in Scotland

b) and the nitrate vulnerable zone rules:

i) nitrate vulnerable zones

ii) The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 Guidance for Farmers and Land Managers in Wales

iii) nitrate vulnerable zones in Scotland

8. The relevant requirements for spreading poultry manure on land should also be followed:

a) How to use, store or move manure, guano and digestive tract content

b) The Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 – Water GBR 18 and relevant guidance: FW-Factsheet-8.pdf , FW-Factsheet-9.pdf , PEPFAA Code - Farming and Water Scotland in Scotland

9. Waste wash water, defined as “water used for the rinsing and removal of detergent as part of a cleaning process”, does not require licensing to be moved. However, disposal of wastewater should be in line with:

a) Animal disease outbreak: prevent pollution from cleaning and disinfection

b) the nitrate vulnerable zone rules (see note 7 above)

10. All other relevant legislation must be complied with.

11. Under condition 11, in order to bury poultry manure, litter, and used bedding, prior consent is required by the relevant authority:

a) England – The Environment Agency

b) Wales – Natural Resources Wales

c) Scotland – Scottish Environment Protection Agency

12. All bird keepers must keep a close watch on their birds for signs of disease and maintain good biosecurity at all times. If you have any concerns about the health of your birds, seek prompt advice from your vet.

13. For further details of legislation covering avian influenza in:

a) England – check the bird flu guidance

b) Wales – check the Welsh Government’s guidance

c) Scotland – check the Scottish Government website

Failure to observe the measures required in this licence is an offence under Section 73 of the Animal Health Act 1981. The penalty on conviction of an offence under this section is a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine not exceeding Level 5 on the standard scale or both.

Contact us

If you have any queries regarding this general licence, please contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Please include your name, full address and telephone number so we can ensure your enquiry is routed to the correct area expert.