Agriculture
AI
Estonia Orders Nationwide Poultry Lockdown Ahead of Bird Flu Wave
Effective February 9, 2026, Estonia has ordered all domestic poultry to be housed indoors, aligning with Finland and other European nations in a coordinated effort to contain the spread of avian influenza ahead of the high-risk migratory season.
- —Estonia has implemented a nationwide requirement for all domestic poultry to be housed indoors, effective February 9, 2026, to curb the spread of bird flu.
- —The measure, deemed the most effective way to contain the disease by the European Food Safety Agency, aligns with similar restrictions in Finland and other European countries.
- —The Agricultural and Food Board (PTA) is enforcing the ban, with exceptions for ducks and geese under strict isolation conditions, to mitigate risks associated with the upcoming bird migration season.
- —PTA officials will monitor compliance and provide guidance to poultry farmers, emphasizing the importance of registering bird housing locations in the PRIA registry.
Recap
Estonia's poultry confinement mandate is not an isolated panic measure but a calculated component of a broader European biosecurity strategy. The synchronized timing with neighboring countries reveals a coordinated attempt to manage a predictable, transboundary agricultural threat. The emphasis on registry compliance underscores a shift towards data-driven disease management to mitigate economic disruption and potential public health risks from avian influenza.