Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (Amendment) Order 2026: Implications for UK health and safety law and how duty holders should respond

Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (Amendment) Order 2026: Implications for UK health and safety law and how duty holders should respond

What has changed

The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 has been amended to regulate the movement of poultry meat traced from infected premises during the unregulated period of infection. The amendments to article 24 allow the Secretary of State to destroy the traced meat or, subject to a risk assessment, permit its movement to a food processing establishment for treatment. Once the traced meat has been treated under the new paragraphs (1B) or (1C) of article 24, its movement is no longer restricted.

Why this matters for UK health and safety law

This change directly affects organisations involved in farming, processing and distributing poultry meat. It clarifies when movement of traced meat is permitted and introduces a treatment option as an alternative to destruction, subject to risk assessment. The update emphasises the need for robust traceability, timely decision making and clear governance around disease controls to prevent further spread while maintaining supply chain continuity.

What organisations should do next

• Review outbreak response plans and ensure clear liaison with animal health authorities and local enforcement when dealing with traced meat.
• Update biosecurity procedures across farms, abattoirs and processing sites to align with new movement and treatment pathways.
• Revise risk assessments for poultry handling, transport and processing to reflect the option to move traced meat to a processing establishment for treatment rather than destruction.
• Ensure robust record keeping to demonstrate traceability of meat from origin to processing or disposal.
• Communicate with suppliers and customers about the updated controls and any changes to product flows to maintain regulatory compliance and customer confidence.
• Review contracts with transporters and processing partners to reflect the new pathway and ensure contractual safeguards and responsibilities are clear.
• Align management systems with good practice frameworks such as ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management and maintain competent oversight to demonstrate ongoing compliance with UK health and safety law.
• Consider engaging a specialist advisor for health and safety risk assessments and competent person support as needed. See health and safety risk assessments and Competent Person support.
• Where appropriate, explore broader governance improvements linking to health and safety management systems such as ISO 45001 occupational health and safety management.

In all cases, actions should be guided by the principle of proportionate risk management: balance the urgency of controlling disease spread with the need to maintain supply chains, while ensuring workers are protected under HSE requirements.

For practical guidance, organisations may engage with Synergos Consultancy to support risk assessments, governance and training as part of a broader health and safety management approach.

In summary, the amendment strengthens the regulatory framework for movement and treatment of traced poultry meat, reinforcing clear duties on duty holders to implement controls and maintain robust records to support safe operations.