Avian influenza: advice and support for RSPCA Assured members
Unfortunately, it’s avian influenza (AI) season, and with recent increases in outbreaks and housing orders announced in some areas, we know this is a challenging time for our poultry members – and the wider industry.
At RSPCA Assured, we’re here to support you. Our farming and technical engagement team is here to offer advice and practical guidance to help you continue meeting the RSPCA welfare standards throughout this winter.
You’ll find information about the assessment options available to you below.
There’s also:
- Information about the extra biosecurity precautions we’re taking
- Poultry welfare tips for the AI season
- Advice on making housing confinement contingency plans
- Where to find further information and support.
Flexible assessments during the AI season
We’re continuing to take a flexible approach to farm assessments in areas affected by control zones, housing orders and avian influenza protection zones (AIPZ).
If your site is in a control zone, housing order area or AIPZ, you may be able to choose a desktop assessment instead of an in-person assessment.
However, some members will still need to receive an in-person assessment, including:
- New member applications
- Seasonal turkey production
- Members involved in active complaints or incidents
- Members with current sanctions in place or who have received sanctions within the previous two years.
If you receive an in-person assessment, RSPCA Assured assessors will follow both your biosecurity procedures and our own enhanced biosecurity protocols.
We encourage any RSPCA Assured member who has concerns about AI or has any questions to get in touch, and we’ll do everything we can to help.
Option one - A standard in-person assessment, following strict biosecurity procedures:
- All assessors have the necessary PPE and DEFRA-approved disinfectants
- Assessors follow all site-specific biosecurity requirements communicated when the assessment is booked
- Assessors have received training on the pathology and transmission of AI and improved biosecurity.
Option two - A desktop assessment with an in-person visit at a later date:
- If you request a desktop assessment, your assessor and the membership services team will determine if you’re eligible
- If you receive a desktop assessment, you’ll also have an in-person visit within the next 12 months.
- For eligible sites in a housing order area – but not within a control zone – there will be a charge of £70 (including VAT) for an additional in-person visit within 12 months. This will help us cover the extra costs involved.
Desktop assessments
Desktop assessments focus on bird health and welfare and usually take up to two hours - but you should allow extra time for any additional questions or discussion.
You’ll need to be able to take part in a video conference call using WhatsApp (or an alternative video call application such as Google Meet) and walk around to show the assessor different areas of your site.
If you don’t have a stable wifi or mobile network connection available, you can provide short pre-recorded video clips instead.
We’ll call you to arrange and discuss the desktop assessment beforehand, providing full details of what’s involved.
Desktop assessments count as a full assessment, but will be followed up with an in-person visit within 12 months to ensure the integrity of the RSPCA Assured scheme and your business.
Assessments in AI control zones
If your assessment is due when your site is in an AI control zone, we will progress your assessment in one of the following ways:
- An in-person assessment for those not eligible for a desktop assessment
- A desktop assessment - this counts as a full assessment, but will be followed up with an in-person visit within 12 months.
Wednesday 29 October 2025