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DEFRA Compartments

Compartments for Breeding Poultry – Ensuring Freedom from Avian Influenza (AI) and Newcastle Disease (ND).

DEFRA - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The United Kingdom was the first country to apply the idea to breeding poultry.

The Compartment principle was first proposed by the OIE in 2004 as a means of enabling international trade to continue without the risk of spreading disease.

Even at times when there may be an outbreak the UK Compartment scheme provides an assurance that member companies are free from both AI and ND.

Compartment Schedules for 2024

DEFRA Compartments

For the protection against Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease in poultry breeding companies in Great Britain.

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DEFRA Revised Poultry Compartment Schedules

Changes table- March 2024
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Q&A’s

Q: What is the Compartment principle?

A: The Compartment principle was first proposed by WOAH (then-OIE) in 2004, as a means of enabling international trade to continue without the risk of spreading disease.

Q: Which country first applied the Compartment principle to breeding poultry?

A: The United Kingdom is the first country to apply the Compartment principle to breeding poultry.

Q: What assurance does the UK Compartment scheme provide?
A: The UK Compartment scheme assures sites that operate to our exact same standards that approved member businesses are free from both avian influenza and Newcastle disease, even during outbreaks of these diseases within the country.
Q: How are Compartment birds isolated in the UK scheme?
A: Compartment birds in the UK are isolated from other poultry and wild birds via management practices.
Q: How do importing countries use the UK Compartment scheme?
A: UK Compartments provide sufficient reassurance that approved companies are free from avian influenza and Newcastle disease, even during localised and controlled outbreaks within the UK, and are therefore willing to continue imports.
Q: When does the Compartment system come into effect?
A: The UK would rely on the Compartment system during times when national freedom from avian influenza and Newcastle disease has been temporarily lost.
Q: Who runs the UK Compartment scheme for breeding poultry?
A: The UK Compartment scheme for breeding poultry is an official project run by Defra (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). We host the information on our website.
Q: How are members of the UK Compartment scheme monitored?
A: Members of the UK Compartment scheme are inspected and monitored by government veterinary officials.

Rules for UK

The rules for UK breeding poultry Compartments are detailed in the Schedules for Hatcheries and Schedules for Flock Farms. More information and application forms for the scheme can be found on the Defra website. The website also contains a list of currently approved premises.
Visit: DEFRA Website