Stricter requirements, including keeping birds indoors, were introduced at the end of February due to the spread of avian influenza.
Specialist in the monitoring part of the PVD, Rudīte Vārna, said that in the last three weeks, the Service has carried out 225 inspections on poultry farms, and in around 10% of cases various irregularities have been detected.
“The checks have identified a variety of offences, including 18 farms did not keep birds indoors or in areas with roof and fencing. “There are more problems with small barns, where people are keeping some chickens for self-consumption and people are not informed that there are such requirements,” said Vārna.
In 2021, avian influenza has been detected in 49 wild birds.
Subtypes of avian influenza circulating in European countries are a serious threat to the poultry sector in Latvia. The disease was first detected in Latvia in February in two dead swans in Jūrmala.