Following a positive vote by Member States, the European Commission will provide €14 million to Poland to help compensate poultry farmers in areas affected by avian influenza outbreaks. Funded by the agricultural reserve, payments must be made to Polish poultry farmers by 28 February 2026.
Between 9 August 2021 and 3 August 2023, 193 outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5 (“bird flu”) were confirmed and notified in Poland. The affected species included broilers, laying hens, turkeys, ducks and geese. Poland implemented all necessary sanitary and veterinary measures, including control, monitoring and prevention measures. Protection and surveillance zones were established. This resulted in production losses of hatching eggs, consumption eggs, live poultry and poultry meat on farms located in those areas subject to movement restrictions, as well as losses due to destroyed and downgraded eggs and meat.
Following a formal request from Poland, the Commission decided, after thorough analysis, to cover with EU funds 50% of the expenditure borne by Poland to support affected poultry producers, providing a total amount of €14,059,607 from the EU agricultural reserve. This amount was established on the basis of a fixed compensation rate per animal and per egg.
Only farms located in those regulated zones affected by the control measures arising from the 193 aforementioned outbreaks will be eligible to receive this support. To avoid double funding with public money, the losses incurred should not have been compensated through state aid or insurance. Payments co-financed by the agricultural reserve must be made no later than 28 February 2026.
Following the formal adoption of the support measure by the Commission, the implementing regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and is expected to enter into force in early August.
These outbreaks are not new; in April 2021, Poland recorded more than 261 bird flu outbreaks with over 6 million birds culled.
For more information:
-. Poultry industry in Poland
-. Avian Influenza on NeXusAvicultura