Facing a persistently volatile avian influenza outbreak, German Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer of the CSU has stopped short of ruling out a nationwide mandatory housing order for poultry, signaling a cautious approach to a rapidly evolving crisis. Rainer, in statements to RTL and ntv, acknowledged the potential for escalating measures should the situation deteriorate further, emphasizing that any decision would be made in close coordination with the individual German states.
Currently, Rainer maintains that a blanket nationwide stall order is unnecessary, citing the localized and uneven nature of the outbreak across the country. He argued that imposing such a sweeping regulation at this juncture would be premature, highlighting the need for a more targeted response.
The Minister stressed that the focus remains on a regionally-driven strategy, with the states and local districts positioned to assess the necessity of housing orders based on their specific circumstances. “It is correct that the responsibility remains with the states” Rainer stated, effectively decentralizing the decision-making process.
This approach, while intended to mitigate disruption, has drawn criticism from some agricultural experts who suggest a more unified strategy might prove more effective in containing the virus’s spread. Concerns have been raised that the decentralized approach could lead to inconsistent enforcement and potentially allow the virus to bypass containment efforts due to varying levels of vigilance across different regions. The government’s reluctance to implement a nationwide order also raises questions about the degree of political risk appetite in tackling the ongoing threat, particularly as the economic impact of localized outbreaks continues to ripple through the sector.