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Netherlands Lifts Nationwide Chicken Ban
21 Apr
Summary
- Nationwide indoor order for chickens lifted due to reduced contagion risk.
- Order was implemented in October last year to curb rapid infections.
- Indoor order remains for specific area in Gelderland province.
As of April 21, 2026, the Dutch government has decided to end a nationwide order that mandated chickens be kept indoors. This directive was initially put in place in October of the previous year to address the rapid spread of bird flu across the country's farms.
The decision to lift the order comes as the perceived risk of bird flu contagion has diminished. The government has stated that the situation will be subject to ongoing monitoring.
Despite the broader lifting of the ban, a specific measure remains in effect. Chickens will continue to be kept indoors within a designated area of Gelderland province, an region noted for its significant number of poultry operations.
