The Government will extend measures against avian flu to all municipalities in the Balearic Islands, but will not confine the birds.

PalmIn the coming days, the Balearic Government will extend protective measures against avian flu to all municipalities in the islands, but will not confine the birds. Currently, control measures only affect municipalities considered high-risk areas, such as Santa Margalida, Muro, Sa Pobla, Pollença, and Alcúdia, and those considered areas of special surveillance, such as Felanitx, Campos, Formentera, Ibiza, San José de Sa Atalaya, Santa Eulalia del Río, Maó, and Es Mercadal. This Thursday, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) ordered the confinement of all poultry in the country, but the ministerial order states that the autonomous communities can adjust the measures to adapt them to the specific circumstances of their farms. The Directorate General of Agriculture has decided to maintain the previously announced protective measures that will allow, as established by state regulations, "the keeping of poultry outdoors, by placing, if possible, bird netting or any other device that prevents the entry of wild birds, and in facilities or shelters that prevent the arrival of wild birds and avoid their contact with the food or water intended for the poultry." Although avian flu has not yet reached the Balearic Islands, the Director General of Agriculture, Livestock and Rural Development, Fernando Fernández, has warned that "the danger is real" and added that there is "very strong" concern about this disease reaching the Islands. Therefore, he reiterated that the measures adopted by the Government "can be maintained as long as there is responsible behavior on the part of farm owners." Similarly, he warned that if the Directorate General becomes aware of widespread non-compliance with the precautions, "more drastic measures will be adopted, including, if necessary, lockdowns." Regarding small-scale poultry farms, Fernández indicated that they are obligated to keep their waterers and feeders in protected locations and that these farms are best suited to establish enclosed feeding stations. However, the Director General pointed out that 70 percent of poultry farms in the Balearic Islands are for personal consumption, making it "practically impossible to enforce this measure with this level of dispersion." Therefore, he expressed his confidence that owners will comply with the measures, protect their hens, and "look out for their own well-being and that of their neighbors." Furthermore, the Directorate General, together with its technical services, has determined that the next resolution will include more intensive inspections of commercial farms to ensure that biosecurity measures are being implemented.

What are the measurements?

Given the characteristics of self-consumption farms in the Balearic Islands, outdoor rearing is permitted provided the following conditions are met: that food and water are provided indoors or in protected spaces, without contact with wild birds; that outdoor water containers are protected from contact with wild birds; and that water from containers accessible to wild birds is used. It is also prohibited to provide poultry and other captive birds with water from containers accessible to wild birds, unless the water is treated to ensure the inactivation of any potential avian influenza viruses. However, outdoor water containers required for animal welfare reasons by certain poultry species must be sufficiently protected against wild waterfowl.

Farms participating in weekly markets in the aforementioned municipalities under special surveillance will be registered and will supply birds for their own consumption in small quantities, without large gatherings or interaction with wild birds. Therefore, they are permitted to continue their activity, provided the epidemiological situation allows it. However, markets of this type are prohibited in areas of special risk, such as Santa Margalida, Muro, Sa Pobla, Pollença, and Alcudia, and in areas under special surveillance: Felanitx, Campos, Formentera, Ibiza, San José de Sa Atalaya, and Santa Eulària, where birds from more than one farm or different municipalities are concentrated, whether poultry or captive birds. Livestock shows, exhibitions, displays, and cultural celebrations are prohibited, as well as any gathering of poultry in areas of special risk and surveillance. In the remaining municipalities, authorization may be requested, which must include all the information stipulated in the Ministry's resolution on measures relating to the prevention of avian influenza in the Balearic Islands: participating species, number of birds, origin, separation between species, duration, and preventive measures. Likewise, training flights of homing pigeons are authorized under the supervision of the veterinarian responsible for vaccinations, as it is not common to detect the disease in these birds. They are transported in closed vehicles to the release site and subsequently returned to their original loft. These provisions are effective retroactively from November 10, 2025, and will remain in force subject to modification depending on the evolution of the epidemiological situation.