Outbreaks of avian influenza in both kept and wild birds continue to occur at an unprecedented scale across Europe and the UK with cases continuing to be confirmed into year two of the outbreak for the first time. We recognise that these outbreaks are very distressing for the individual poultry farmers that are affected. On 28 October we announced a new package of measures to support domestic producers with the impacts of AI. This included changes to the compensation scheme (effective from the 1st October) in response to significant concerns from industry on the impact the rapid mortality caused by the current H5N1 strain and risk that escalating case numbers leading to substantial delays to culling can have on the amount of compensation paid. Compensation will now be linked to decisions taken at the start of planned culling rather than at the end. This will allow us to give earlier certainty about entitlement to compensation, better reflect the impact of outbreaks on premises and lead to swifter payments to help stem any cash flow pressures. Compensation paid for birds culled by HM Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. Compensation is also not paid for other things that have to be seized because they pose a risk of transmitting disease. The amount of compensation is established by APHA using the relevant <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fuploads%2Fsystem%2Fuploads%2Fattachment_data%2Ffile%2F1022649%2Fpoultry-valuation-table.zip&data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C4af77730e1a247f3ddf908dac62abde4%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638040184127851064%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=63ZTcEtoaSQCAZ1PMOqCr091XWMzxhJaeXTZQsyHBR4%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank">valuation rate card (or for specialist stock by a specialist valuer). We do not comment on individual claims and the amount of compensation that keepers receive is not disclosed. In addition, in England, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) operates a financial support payment scheme for those farmers most in need. More information is available on gov.uk and from the RPA helpline. Furthermore, in consultation with the Food Standards Agency, an easement to marketing rules is also being introduced in Great Britain. The measures mean that farmers who breed turkeys, geese, ducks or capons for their meat will have the option to slaughter birds early, and to freeze them, which can then be defrosted and sold to consumers as whole birds, stuffed crowns or 2/3 bird roasts between the period 28 November and 31 December 2022. Products will also need to be properly labelled and accompanied by in-store signage and online information for customers. This option is being introduced to give producers certainty over business planning. We produce over 11 million turkeys in the UK every year. Over the Christmas period approximately 8 million turkeys, 200,000 geese and 100,000 ducks are sold to some of the highest standards in the world. Around 50% of these are usually sold frozen. There is no immediate threat to the food supply chain as a result of the current outbreak, with the introduction of this measure helping mitigate any potential risks to the supply of seasonal poultry products for the Christmas market.