Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the impact of gamebird releases on Lyme disease risk.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Direct impacts of gamebird releases on Lyme disease risk are difficult to quantify due to the complex transmission cycle that occurs between Borrelia and a wide range of British wildlife. The lack of clarity on where humans are exposed to infected ticks, as well as levels of engagement in protective behaviours that reduce disease risk further complicates matters.

A recent study by the University of Exeter and the UK Health Security Agency in southwest England compared woodlands with and without pheasant release and provided evidence that woodlands with pheasants have a higher percentage of ticks infected with the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease. The study, however, did not link this directly with human case data and thus cannot be used to infer Lyme disease risk.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they assessed the risk of infected game meat from highly pathogenic avian influenza in released pheasants entering (1) the human food chain, and (2) pet or zoo meat supplies; and what controls are in place to prevent that entry.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are several statutory measures which minimise the risk of game birds infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) entering the food and feed chains.

The release of game birds is not permitted in any avian influenza disease control zone, nor are game bird releases permitted while an avian influenza prevention zone (AIPZ), including mandatory housing measures, is in force. Additional biosecurity measures for game bird operations mandated by the AIPZs are currently in force across England and Wales.

For farmed game, assimilated Regulation 2019/627 does not permit animals showing symptoms of disease to enter the food chain, and they are actively prevented from entering the slaughterhouse by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

For wild game, assimilated Regulation 853/2004 requires a trained hunter/person to identify signs that may indicate that the meat presents a health risk. If abnormal behaviour is observed before killing or there are abnormal findings during examination, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the FSA must be notified and the bird(s) will be removed from the food and feed chain if the findings are consistent with HPAI.

Under assimilated Regulation 1069/2009, carcases of wild animals, including game animals, when suspected of being infected with diseases communicable to humans or animals, including HPAI, are classed as a Category 1, or high risk, animal by-product and cannot be used for pet food.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce requirements for gamebird shoots in areas in England outside of European sites (1) to have a vet inspect reared gamebirds for signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) before release, (2) to report mortality or suspicion of HPAI in released gamebirds, and (3) to remove dead released gamebirds.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) currently in force throughout the whole of England was updated to include additional biosecurity measures for game bird operations on 26 August 2025. These measures reflect the specific disease risks associated with the game bird and shooting sector during the gamebird release season and are intended to protect both wild and captive bird populations.

Within the AIPZ, birds must not be put in a release pen if they show signs of avian influenza. Game birds kept in release pens must be checked daily and any birds showing clinical signs suggestive of avian influenza must receive immediate and appropriate attention, including discussing the clinical signs with a veterinary surgeon. Any suspicion of avian influenza must be reported to the Animal and Plant Health Agency immediately. Keepers must also conduct a daily search of the area within and up to a 50-metre radius surrounding the release pen(s) and feeding and watering stations, for carcases of dead game birds and/or dead wild birds. These should be reported to Defra using the online reporting service for dead wild birds. If carcases are not required for avian influenza surveillance, the carcases must be appropriately disposed of (see attached).

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the highly pathogen avian influenza risk that released gamebirds pose to (1) wild birds outside of special protection areas, (2) poultry, (3) mammal livestock, and (4) wild mammals, in England.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra, in conjunction with Welsh Government and Scottish Government, commissioned a risk assessment from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), to further understand the impact game bird releases have on transmission of avian influenza in wild birds, and between wild birds and kept birds in periods of higher than usual levels of avian influenza. This risk assessment is published on gov.uk as part of the ‘Animal diseases: international and UK monitoring’ collection.

Furthermore, a risk assessment of the likely transmission of Avian Influenza from Livestock to Humans was undertaken by Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance (HAIRS) group, and concluded that the probability of infection in the UK population is considered very low.

This assessment has informed disease controls. During outbreaks, there are controls on the release of game birds in areas of known high risk. The release of game birds is not permitted in any avian influenza disease control zone, nor are game bird releases permitted while an avian influenza prevention zone, including mandatory housing measures, is in force.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much they have spent on (1) compensation, (2) disinfection of premises, and (3) other costs, associated with avian flu outbreaks at (a) poultry, and (b) game, farms in the 2024–25 season.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Please see costs for the Avian Flu outbreaks in the 2024–25 season (1 October 2024 – 30 September 2025).

Outbreak Year 2024 - 25

Note:

I. The costs to His Majesty's Government are for England total, as Devolved Governments recharged costs.

II. The figures do not include:

o the split between poultry and game because data is not disaggregated by these categories

o the split between disinfection and other costs because data is not disaggregated by these categories

III. It is possible that some of these costs will change as there may be late submissions of invoices and some data are subject to review and audit.