Licencing for protection and surveillance zones

General licences allow a movement or activity that would otherwise be prohibited in England and Wales. You need to check that you meet and comply with the conditions of the general licence. 

If you do so, you do not need to apply - you can rely on the general licence as providing authority for the movement or activity.

The following general licences are currently available on the GOV.UK website:

• General licence for the spreading on premises or movement of used poultry litter, poultry manure and poultry slurry originating from premises in a Protection Zone or a Surveillance Zone in England or Wales (EXD353(HPAI)(EW))
• General licence for the movement of poultry carcases for disposal from premises in a Protection Zone in England or Wales (EXD339(HPAI)(EW))
• General licence for the movement of table eggs within or out of a Protection or Surveillance Zone in England or Wales (EXD243(AI)(EW))
• General licence for the movement of mammals from or to premises in the Protection or Surveillance Zone where poultry or other captive birds are kept (EXD247(HPAI)(EW))
• General licence for the movement of poultry by products and hatching eggs for disposal from premises in a Protection or Surveillance Zone (EXD389 (HPAI)(EW)) 
• General licence for the movement of horses for the purpose of exercise from a premises in the Surveillance Zone where poultry or other captive birds are kept (EXD497(HPAI)(EW))

If you need to move something that is restricted in any current Protection Zone or Surveillance Zones, you should apply to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). 

Complete the application requesting exemption from restrictions (EXD100) form. Email to outbreak.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

You should give the licensing team as much notice as possible to process the requests. Aim to allow at least 3 days for your licence application to be processed. Complex and high-risk movements will require extra time to assess and process. 

We will try to clear urgent applications with less than 3 days’ notice but you should make contingency plans in case this is not possible.

If a licence is issued, it will normally allow a one-off movement and will be subject to certain conditions based on disease control risk.