SciTech News

H5 bird flu update: October 2026

26 October 2026

H5 bird flu events in wildlife continue to be recorded, however there remain no detections in Australian poultry or other animal production systems. Members can monitor the latest developments via the birdflu.gov.au website.

With national disease response arrangements already in place, governments have been engaging with industry, including the AFGC, to understand the potential supply chain impacts of measures that may be required to contain an outbreak in poultry or egg-laying flocks if one was to occur.

The ACCC have confirmed that the scope of its labelling guidance applies to primary production and is intended for the poultry and egg production sectors. Any free-range representations for packaged food must be accurate. As voluntary housing orders continue across several jurisdictions, the poultry and egg industries have developed on-pack stickers and point of sale notices to inform consumers when eggs or poultry products have been sourced from housed birds. For further information contact Duncan Craig.